Texas Tech’s Janine Beckie and West Virginia’s Kadeisha Buchanan have been named the Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year. WVU’s Michaela Abam is the Newcomer of the Year, while Mountaineer head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown is the Big 12 Coach of the Year. It is the third straight coaching honor for Izzo-Brown, while Buchanan is top defender for the second year in a row.
Beckie leads the Big 12 in points (29), goals (13) and shots (103) en route to becoming the first Red Raider in conference history to win the offensive award. She led the league in all three categories in conference play as well.
Buchanan is the third player to win back-to-back defensive accolades in Big 12 history and the first to do it in her freshman and sophomore campaigns. She anchored a WVU defense that had nine shutouts and has allowed more than one goal just once in league play.
Abam led West Virginia in goals (7), a total that was tied for fourth in the conference. The freshman was tops among all league newcomers in goals and has notched scores in three of her last six outings.
Izzo-Brown is the first mentor in Big 12 history to win Coach of the Year in three straight seasons. The Mountaineers won their third straight Big 12 regular season championship, becoming the seventh team to win a regular season title without a loss.
The Conference also announced its All-Big 12 First and Second Team selections, as well as the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. There were five repeat first team choices from a year ago, while five student-athletes were unanimous selections.
Offensive Player of the Year
Janine Beckie, Texas Tech, F, Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year
Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia, D, So.
Newcomer of the Year
Michaela Abam, West Virginia, F, Fr.
Coach of the Year
Nikki Izzo-Brown, West Virginia, 19th season (265-98-41)
All-Big 12 First Team
GK - Abby Smith, Texas, Jr.
D - Caroline Van Slambrouck, Kansas, Sr.
D - Jaelene Hinkle, Texas Tech, Sr.**
D - Kadeisha Buchanan, West Virginia, So.**
MF - Allie Stephenson, Oklahoma State, Jr.
MF - Paige Strahan, Texas Tech, Sr.
MF - Ashley Lawrence, West Virginia, So.**
F - Liana Salazar, Kansas, Jr.**
F - Janine Beckie, Texas Tech, Jr.
F - Kate Schwindel, West Virginia, Sr.
U - Ashley Williams, Kansas, Jr.
All-Big 12 Second Team
GK - Lauren Watson, Texas Tech, So.
D - Natalie Calhoun, Oklahoma State, So.
D - Bobbi Clemmer, TCU, Jr.
D - Hannah Devine, Texas Tech, Jr.
MF - Bri Campos, Baylor, Jr.
MF - Jamie Fletcher, Kansas, Sr.
MF - Sharis Lachappelle, Texas, Sr.
F - Courtney Dike, Oklahoma State, So.
F - Madison Mercado, Oklahoma State, Jr.
F - Kailey Utley, West Virginia, Jr.
U - Cari Price, West Virginia, Jr.
Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
GK - Hannah Steadman, West Virginia, Jr.
D - Kayla Morrison, Kansas, Fr.
D - Laura Rayfield, Oklahoma, Jr.
D - Ryan Williams, TCU, Fr.
MF - Lizzie Luallin, Oklahoma, Fr.
MF - Cassie Conarty, Texas Tech, Fr.
MF - Carla Portillo, West Virginia, Fr.**
F - Olivia Brook, Texas, Fr.
F - Michaela Abam, West Virginia, Fr.
F - Amandine Pierre-Louis, West Virginia, Fr.
U - Precious Akanyirige, Baylor, Fr.
** - Unanimous selection
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes