Big West Announces 2012 Women's Soccer All-Conference

Files associated with this release:
12WSocAllConf.pdf

10/31/2012

The 2012 Big West Women’s Soccer All-Conference team had a large showing of seniors to close out their careers in the Big West.  Nadia Link led the way with her second-consecutive Big West Offensive Player of the Year for Long Beach State, with senior foe Cici Kobinski of Cal Poly named Midfielder of the Year.  Cal State Northridge was represented defensively with Chloe McDaniels receiving Defender of the Year and two-time Goalie of the Year awarded to senior Cynthia Jacobo.  Closing out the individual player awards, Elise Krieghoff was named Freshman of the Year after leading the league in goals in her first season on the Cal Poly squad.  Cal State Fullerton head coach Demian Brown snagged his second Big West Coach of the Year award after leading the Titans to the Big West regular-season title for the first time since 2007.

With her second-consecutive Offensive Player of the Year award, Link (Rowland Heights, Calif./Walnut HS) closes out her career in the Big West leading the league this season in assists (9) and points (25).  Over her four years Link ranks in numerous categories in all-time Big West records.  The forward has collected 84 points and 32 goals, is tied for tenth all-time with 20 assists, tied for fourth with 13 game-winning goals, and ranks eighth all-time with 208 shots in her helm at Long Beach State.  Link has also collected postseason recognition three years in a row, including All-Big West first team, 2011 NSCAA First-Team All-West Region and 2011 NSCAA Third-Team All-American honors.

Kobinski (Santa Clara, Calif./Cupertino HS) dominated the midfield, starting all 18 contests her senior season and scoring four goals with seven assists, for a total 15 points.   She was second for the Mustangs in minutes played this season (1,584) and started every game the last three seasons for the Mustangs, while only missing one contest in her complete career in the Big West in her freshman season.   The two-time All-Big West first team midfielder ended her four seasons as a Mustang with career totals of seven goals, 10 assists and 24 points.

Leading the conference in fewest goals allowed and lowest goals-against average, Cal State Northridge’s McDaniel (Palmdale, Calif./Quartz Hill HS) was a major contributor for the Matadors this year. The starting junior scored two goals on the season with one assist for five points, playing in all 19 games thus far. The Matadors defense is ranked nationally by the NSCAA at No. 12 in goals-against average (.583), allowing only 12 goals in the 19 contests, and first in save percentage (.898) with a total 106 saves on the season.   

Senior teammate Jacobo (Arieta, Calif./Granada Hills HS), the Big West Freshman of the Year in 2009, was named Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive season.  Jacobo holds 96 saves this season alone and is nationally ranked fourth in save percentage (.906) and ninth in goals-against average (.511).  Over her four years as a Matador, the starting goalkeeper has collected 31 wins while ranking sixth in the Big West records with 25 career shutouts and ninth in saves with 272.  She was named All-Big West second team her first two seasons and first team in both her junior and senior terms.

Leading the conference in goals, Cal Poly rookie forward Krieghoff (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS) was named Big West Freshman of the Year.  In her first season as a Mustang she scored a league high 11 goals to bring in the second-most points with 22.  Nationally she is ranked No. 13 with .61 goals per game, scoring a pair of goals against conference opponents Pacific, Long Beach State and Hawai’i.  She has helped lead the Mustangs to their first conference tournament appearance since 2009.

In his sixth season at the helm of the Fullerton program, Demian Brown led his team to 7-2 conference and 10-8 overall record for the sixth title in the history of the program and fourth solo title after sharing the crown in 2004 and 2007.  This is the second Coach of the Year award for Brown after a co-title his first season (2007).  The Titan leader will be taking his second squad to the conference tournament, after going all the way to win the championship match against Cal Poly 4-3 in penalty kicks in 2007.

Three Big West tournament participants led the way with three first-team all-conference recipients each from Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine.  Cal Poly chipped in with two first-team selections along side Long Beach State with a pair.  The first team consisted of 10 seniors, one junior and one freshman. Long Beach State’s Nadia Link became a three-time first-team all-conference recipient, while Cal Poly’s Cici Kobinski, Long Beach State’s Alex Balcer, Cal State Northridge’s Cynthia Jacobo and UC Irvine’s Natalia Ledezma all earned first-team status for the second time in their careers.