Soccer Picked to Win 2009 Big 12 Title
8/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 12, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri soccer team and Texas A&M tied atop the 2009 Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll to win the league title in a vote by league coaches, announced on Wednesday. Additionally, three Tigers were selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team. Seniors Kristin Andrighetto (Pleasant Hill, Calif. / Carondelet), Meghan Pfeiffer (Chesterfield, Mo. / Parkway West) and Crystal Wagner (Houston, Texas / Memorial) were chosen to the 12-member team. Andrighetto and Pfeiffer were both chosen to the team for the second consecutive season.
The Tigers and Aggies both finished with 91 points, as Texas A&M received six first place votes and Missouri received four. Colorado was chosen third and Oklahoma State, with one first place vote, finished fourth. The remainder of the poll consisted of Texas in fifth place, followed by Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Baylor and Iowa State.
Andrighetto, a forward, is a two-time All-Big 12 first team honoree and a 2008 Soccer Buzz All-America fourth team selection. She recorded 19 points on seven goals and five assists as a junior and enters her senior year ranked sixth in Mizzou history in both points (69) and goals (27)
A midfielder, Pfeiffer is a two-time All-Big 12 second team honoree and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Central Region third team a year ago. Also a member of the 2009 Big 12 All-Tournament Team, Pfeiffer had nine points on three goals and three assists in 2008 and started every game the past two seasons.
Wagner earned spots on the Soccer Buzz All-Central Region second team and the NSCAA/adidas All-Central Region third team after starting and playing in 22 games last season. She helped anchor a defense that set records in shutouts (12) and fewest goals allowed in 2008. Wagner also played for the United States U-23 National Team in games against England in July.
Mizzou was also chosen 20th and 24th in TopDrawerSoccer.com and the NSCAA's preseason polls, respectively.
The Tigers kick off the 2009 campaign on Friday, Aug. 21 at Iowa before hosting Northwestern on Friday, Aug. 28 at Walton Stadium in the home opener.
2009 BIG 12 SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
(First place votes in parentheses; Coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players)
Rank
Team (First Place Votes)
Points
1.
Texas A&M (6)
91
2.
Missouri (4)
91
3.
Colorado
76
4.
Oklahoma State (1)
68
5.
Texas
66
6.
Kansas
59
7.
Nebraska
53
8.
Texas Tech
39
9.
Oklahoma
28
10.
Baylor
20
11.
Iowa State
14
| Pos. | Athlete | School | Year | Hometown |
| GK | Ann Gleason | Iowa State | Sr. | Stillwater, Minn. |
| GK | Kristin Arnold | Texas A&M | Jr. | Centennial, Colo. |
| GK | Kelly Dyer | Texas A&M | Jr. | Germantown, Tenn. |
| D | Caroline Danneberg | Colorado | So. | Englewood, Colo. |
| D | Crystal Wagner | Missouri | Sr. | Houston, Texas |
| D | Carly Peetz | Nebraska | Sr. | Lincoln, Neb. |
| D | Melinda Mercado | Oklahoma State | So. | Sapulpa, Okla. |
| D | Erica Campanelli | Texas | Jr. | Plano, Texas |
| D | Bri Young | Texas A&M | So. | Castle Pines North, Colo. |
| MF | Meghan Pfeiffer | Missouri | Sr. | Chesterfield, Mo. |
| MF | Siera Strawser | Oklahoma State | Sr. | Bixby, Okla. |
| MF | Beth West | Texas A&M | So. | Centennial, Colo. |
| F | Nikki Marshall | Colorado | Sr. | Mead, Colo. |
| F | Kristin Andrighetto | Missouri | Sr. | Pleasant Hill, Calif. |
| F | Whitney Palmer | Oklahoma | Jr. | Plano, Texas |
| F | Kasey Langdon | Oklahoma State | Sr. | Wylie, Texas |
Note: Ties in the voting created additional positions on the preseason team.
