Elyse Nikonchuk Earns All-Big 12 Honor
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Oct. 31, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri junior midfielder Elyse Nikonchuk (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln Way) was named to the 2005 All-Big 12 second team as voted on by the league head coaches. The selection marks the second-straight year Nikoncuk earned second team accolades.
Always a force in the air with her heading ability, Nikonchuk solidified the Tiger midfield on both the offensive and defensive ends this season. She tallied a goal against Colorado and recorded an assist in Missouri's 5-0 win over Iowa.
In addition to her Big 12 honors last season, Nikonchuk was also named to the SoccerBuzz All-Central Region third team after recording two goals and two assists for six points.
Nikonchuk and the rest of the eighth-seeded Tigers next face top-seeded Texas A&M on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 11:00 a.m. in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. Missouri hopes history repeats itself, as the 2003 Tigers became the eighth seed to upset the top seed in the tournament en route to a championship game appearance.
ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
GK -- Kati Jo Spisak, Texas A&M, Sr, Manchester, Mo.
D -- Holly Gault, Kansas, Jr, Spring Hill, Kan.
D -- Sasha Andrews, Nebraska, Sr, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
D -- Kasey Moore, Texas, Fr, Mission Viejo, Calif.
MF -- Fran Munnelly, Colorado, Sr, Arvada, Colo.*
MF -- Lauren MacIver, Oklahoma, Sr, Tulsa, Okla.
MF -- Laura Probst, Texas A&M, Sr, Arvada, Colo.
F -- Caroline Smith, Kansas, Sr, Edina, Minn.
F -- Brittany Timko, Nebraska, Jr, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
F -- Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M, So, Normal, Ill.
F -- Melissa Garey, Texas A&M, So, Gonzales, La.
*Unanimous selection
ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM
GK -- Joanna Haig, Iowa State, So, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
D -- Laura Munnelly, Colorado, Jr, Arvada, Colo.
D -- Yolanda Odenyo, Oklahoma State, Fr, Uppsala, Sweden
D -- Stephanie Logterman, Texas, Fr, Austin, Texas
MF -- Allison Kidd, Colorado, So, Mesquite, Texas
MF -- Elyse Nikonchuk, Missouri, Jr, New Lenox, Ill.
MF -- Caitlin Kennedy, Texas, So, Euless, Texas
F -- Katie Griffin, Colorado, Jr, Scottsdale, Ariz.
F -- Aysha Jamani, Nebraska, Fr, Calgery, Alberta, Canada
F -- Jesyca Rosholt, Oklahoma State, Jr, Sandpoint, Idaho
F -- Kelsey Carpenter, Texas, So, Allen, Texas
BIG 12 ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
GK -- Dianna Pfenninger, Texas, Fr, Sugar Land, Texas
D -- Yolanda Odenyo, Oklahoma State, Fr, Uppsala, Sweden
D -- Kasey Moore, Texas, Fr, Mission Viejo, Calif.
D -- Stephanie Logterman, Texas, Fr, Austin, Texas
MF -- Missy Geha, Kansas, Fr, Overland Park, Kan.
MF -- Jessica Bu
MF -- Angelika Feldbacher, Oklahoma State, Fr, Bad Reichenhall, Germany
MF -- Laura Grace Robinson, Texas A&M, Fr, Houston, Texas
F -- Nikki Keller, Colorado, Fr, Arvada, Colo.
F -- Aysha Jamani, Nebraska, Fr, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
F -- Jesyca Rosholt, Oklahoma State, Jr, Sandpoint, Idaho
Player of the Year: Brittany Timko, Nebraska
Rookie of the Year: Kasey Moore, Texas
Coach of the Year: Rebecca Hornbacher, Iowa State
