April 23, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou soccer team celebrated its 2012 season on Saturday, April 19 when the team hosted its annual banquet at the Clinton Club in Mizzou Arena. The 2012 campaign featured a 14-7-1 record in the team's first year in the Southeastern Conference and an NCAA Tournament berth, among other notable accomplishments.
Former Tiger Jenny Nobis was the evening's guest speaker. Nobis, who played for Mizzou from 2002-05, recently retired from professional soccer after playing in Swedend, England and the United State. A forward, she still ranks fourth in the Mizzou record books in goals (four), third in assists (28) and sixth in points (93). As a senior, Nobis set the school single-season assist mark with 14.
Head Coach Bryan Blitz passed out a number of awards during the evening.
Senior Allison Hu claimed two events on the night, Defensive MVP and the Academic Award. Hu started 21 games at center back in 2012 and ranked second among field players with 1,924 minutes played. She helped the Tiger defense record six shutouts during the year. On the academic front, Hu was named the SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year and earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America second team.
Another Tiger who took home two awards was senior Jessica Greer, who won the Tiger Award and the Strength and Conditioning Award. During 2012, Greer played in all 22 games and earned nine starts, including starts in eight of the last 10 games of the year. She tallied two goals, both game-winners, and an assist for five points.
The Offensive MVP nod went to Haley Krentz after a memorable senior season. She started all 22 games at forward and led the team and ranked second in the SEC with 10 assists. Krentz also scored three goals for 16 points, which ranked second on the team. Krentz was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after posting a goal and an assist in Mizzou's win over Kentucky in the quarterfinals.
Redshirt freshman Lauren Flynn won the Most Improved Award. In her first season on the pitch, Flynn started all 22 games at right back and played a team high 1,986 minutes among field players. The SEC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 24, she scored the game-winning goal against Ole Miss and assisted on a game-tying goal against Illinois in the NCAA Tournament.
Newcomer of the Year honors went to freshman Candace Johnson. The freshman earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors following the season and was named the first SEC Freshman of the Week in 2012. Johnson played 20 games with 19 starts at center back and and helped the Tiger defense notch six shutouts on the year. She also tallied Mizzou's first goal of the season in the opening win over No. 11 Memphis.