Latham Named Big 12 Player of the Year

For the second straight season, Nebraska forward Christine Latham earned Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors, the conference office announced on Monday, Nov. 5. Latham was one of six Huskers to earn all-conference honors.

Nebraska senior midfielder Meghan Anderson and junior defender Breanna Boyd joined Latham on the first-team, while junior forward Kori Saunders and sophomore goalkeeper Erin Miller were named second-team all-conference players. Husker freshman defender Jenna Cooper was named to the league's all-newcomer team.

Latham, who became the first underclassman to earn player-of-the-year honors in 2000, has scored a league-high 36 points on 14 goals and eight assists this season. Also a 2000 All-American, Latham ranks third in school history with 122 career points. She has scored at least one point in 15 of Nebraska's 18 contests this year. Latham is also a Hermann Trophy finalist.

Anderson, the Husker career scoring leader, has scored 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists this season, upping her school-record total to 140 career points. A 2000 All-American, Anderson is a national player-of-the-year award finalist. Earlier this year, Anderson became the 29th Division I athlete to record 40 career goals and 40 career assists. She has recorded 47 goals and 46 assists through her career.

Boyd, also a first-team all-conference selection in 2000, has helped the Huskers post a 1.04 goals-against average, while recording five shutouts. Offensively, Boyd has scored five points on two goals and one assist.

Saunders ranks third on the team with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. She posted two goals at USC and recorded her first career hat trick with a three-goal performance at then-No. 10 Texas A&M.

Miller, who began training as a goalkeeper in February, has recorded five shutouts for Nebraska, while posting an 0.99 goals-against average. The league's only two-time defender-of-the-week honoree in 2001, Miller has not surrendered a goal in her last 115:27. The 5-foot-11 Miller saw action in nine games as a defender in 2000, before earning the starting goalkeeper role this fall.

Cooper has started all but one game this season, helping NU post a goals-against average of 1.04, while recording five shutouts. The left-footed Cooper has also helped the Huskers offensively, assisting a goal against Arizona with a long cross. Anderson was the last true freshman to earn a starting spot in the Husker lineup in 1998.

Nebraska (14-3-1) will face Baylor (8-9-0) in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in a 5 p.m. contest on Thursday in San Antonio, Texas. NU has won each of the last three conference tournament titles.

2001 ALL-BIG 12 CONFERENCE SOCCER TEAMS

Player of the Year: Christine Latham, Nebraska
Rookie of the Year: Kelly Wilson, Texas
Coach of the Year: Chris Petrucelli, Texas

FIRST TEAM
GK -- Shay Wilkerson, Texas, So, Houston, Texas
D -- Breanna Boyd, Nebraska, Jr, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
D -- Jessica Hopkins, Texas, Jr, Grand Prairie, Texas
D -- Laura Kram, Texas, Fr, Wildwood, Mo.
MF -- Meghan Anderson, Nebraska, Sr, Omaha, Neb.
MF -- Kristen Strutz, Texas A&M, So, Spring, Texas
MF -- Nicole Breger, Texas, Fr, Sterling Heights, Mich.
F -- Christine Latham, Nebraska, Jr, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
F -- Kelly Wilson, Texas, Fr, Odessa, Texas
F -- Nicky Thrasher, Texas A&M, Sr, El Paso, Texas
F -- Logan Womack, Oklahoma, So, Norman, Okla.

SECOND TEAM
GK -- Erin Miller, Nebraska, So, Sioux Falls, S.D.
D -- Tamura Crawley, Baylor, Jr, Dallas, Texas
D -- Dyana Russell, Missouri, Sr, Magnolia, Texas
D -- Pardis Brown, Kansas, Jr, Salt Lake City, Utah
MF -- Kati McBain, Texas, So, Los Altos, Calif.
MF -- Michelle Royal, Texas A&M, Sr, Arlington, Texas
MF -- Candace Reilly, Baylor, So, Keller, Texas
F -- Linsey Johnson, Texas A&M, Fr, Midland, Texas
F -- Hilla Rantala, Kansas, Sr, Vantaa, Finland
F -- Adrienne Davis, Missouri, So, Edmond, Okla.
F -- Kori Saunders, Nebraska, Jr, Overland Park, Kan.

ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
GK -- Meghan Miller, Kansas, Fr, Seattle, Wash.
D -- Laura Kram, Texas, Fr, Wildwood, Mo.
D -- Jenna Cooper, Nebraska, Fr, Louisville, Ky.
D -- Shannon Labhart, Texas A&M, Fr, Allen, Texas
MF -- Nicole Breger, Texas, Fr, Sterling Heights, Mich.
MF -- Amanda Burke, Texas A&M, Fr, Spring, Texas
MF -- Kristen Teter, Texas, Fr, Kingwood, Texas
F -- Linsey Johnson, Texas A&M, Fr, Midland, Texas
F -- Kelly Wilson, Texas, Fr, Odessa, Texas
F -- Kelly McDonald, Texas, Fr, Littleton, Colo.
F -- Monica Brothers, Kansas, Fr, Leavenworth, Kan.