Nov. 1, 2004

DALLAS -- The Big 12 Conference announces its ninth annual All-Big 12 Soccer Teams, voted on by the league head coaches and released by the conference office Monday.

Brittany Timko (Nebraska) was honored as Big 12 Player of the Year, Ashlee Pistorius (Texas A&M) was chosen Big 12 Rookie of the Year and Mark Francis (Kansas) was picked as Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Timko, a sophomore forward, leads the Big 12 in four statistical categories and is tied for the lead in three others. She tops the conference in points (43), points per game (2.26), shots (82) and shots per game (4.32). She is tied for the lead in goals (15) with Pistorius and is tied for the lead in assists (13) and asists per game (0.68) with Oklahoma State's Nikki Wojtowicz. Timko is the fifth Nebraska student-athlete to earn player of the year honors joining Kari Uppinghouse (co in 1996), Kim Engesser (1998), Sharolta Nonen (1999) and Christine Latham (2000 and 2001).

Pistorius, a freshman forward, led the Big 12 with seven game-winning goals on the year and in goals per game (0.83) in addition to tying with Timko for total goals (15). She also tied for second in points (1.83) and points per game (1.83) with Texas' Kelly Wilson. Pistorius is the third rookie of the year from Texas A&M joining Melanie Wilson (1996) and Claire Elliott (1997).

Francis earned his first Big 12 Coach of the Year honor after leading Kansas to a share of the 2004 Big 12 Championship, the school's first soccer title. The Jayhawks are currently 16-3-0 on the year and tied Texas A&M with an 8-2-0 conference mark. KU enters the Big 12 Tournament as the No. 1 seed after beating A&M in the regular season to win the tiebreaker for tournament seeding. Francis' teams have qualified for five consecutive Big 12 Tournaments and this year's eight league wins are a school record.

The Big 12 Soccer Tournament will be held Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio. Tickets are $5 per day or $10 for a three-day pass and can be purchased at the stadium or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

The complete All-Big 12 Teams follow:

2004 ALL-BIG 12 CONFERENCE SOCCER TEAMS

Player of the Year: Brittany Timko, Nebraska
Rookie of the Year: Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Mark Francis, Kansas

FIRST TEAM
GK -- Meghan Miller, Kansas, Sr, Seattle, Wash.
D -- Holly Gault, Kansas, So, Spring Hill, Kan.
D -- Sasha Andrews, Nebraska, Jr, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
D -- Laura Munnelly, Colorado, So, Arvada, Colo.
D -- Tanya Dennis, Nebraska, So, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
MF -- Fran Munnelly, Colorado, Jr, Arvada, Colo.
MF -- Amy Geha, Kansas, Sr, Overland Park, Kan.
MF -- Adriane Radtke, Oklahoma State, So, Munich, Germany
F -- Brittany Timko, Nebraska, So, Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
F -- Caroline Smith, Kansas, Jr, Edina, Minn.
F -- Kelly Wilson, Texas, Sr, Odessa, Texas


SECOND TEAM
GK -- Jessica Keller, Colorado, Jr, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
D -- Amanda Burke, Texas A&M, Sr, Spring, Texas
D -- Afton Sauer, Kansas, Fr, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
D -- Ashley Gibbs, Missouri, Sr, Pearland, Texas
D -- Erica Pusch, Missouri, Jr, St. Louis, Mo.
D -- Lauren Colwell, Oklahoma State, Jr, Tulsa, Okla.
MF -- Elyse Nikonchuk, Missouri, So, New Lenox, Ill.
MF -- Jen Thais, Colorado, Sr, Mission Viejo, Calif.
MF -- Carrie Berend, Texas A&M, Jr, Highland Village, Texas
F -- Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M, Fr, Normal, Ill.
F -- Jennifer Nobis, Missouri, Jr, Quincy, Ill.
F -- Rachel Gilfillan, Kansas, Sr, Cottage Grove, Minn.
F -- Jolene Schweitzer, Oklahoma State, Sr, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada


NEWCOMER TEAM
GK -- Joanna Haig, Iowa State, Fr, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
D -- Sasha Andrews, Nebraska, Jr, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
D -- Megan Sherrell, Baylor, Fr, Dallas, Texas
D -- Afton Sauer, Kansas, Fr, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
MF -- Nicole Cauzillo, Kansas, So, Northville, Mich.
MF -- Caitlin Kennedy, Texas, Fr, Euless, Texas
MF -- Allie True, Colorado, So, Alamo, Calif.
MF -- Amy Berend, Texas A&M, Fr, Highland Village, Texas
F -- Anna Schuch, Baylor, So, Austin, Texas
F -- Kelsey Carpenter, Texas, Fr, Allen, Texas
F -- Ashlee Pistorius, Texas A&M, Fr, Normal, Ill.