Timko Named Big 12 Player of the Year

Dallas - Nebraska sophomore forward/midfielder Brittany Timko was named the Big 12 Conference Soccer Player of the Year, the league office announced on Monday. Junior defender Sasha Andrews and sophomore defender Tanya Dennis were also honored as first-team All-Big 12 selections as Nebraska placed three on the first team, trailing only Kansas’ total of four.

Timko led the conference in every offensive category except two. Her 15 goals, 13 assists and 43 points were all league highs, as were her 82 shots, 4.32 shots-per-game average, 2.26 points-per-game average and 0.68 assists-per-game average. The Coquitlam, British Columbia, native also ranked second with a goals-per-game average of 0.79 and was tied for fifth in the Big 12 with three game-winning goals.

In the latest NCAA statistical rankings, released Oct. 26, Timko was tied for first with 13 assists, ranked fourth with 43 points, was sixth with an assists-per-game average of 0.72, was eighth with a points-per-game average of 2.39 and ranked ninth with 15 goals. She was also tied for 18th with a 0.83 goals-per-game average.

Timko tied the single-game school record with nine points against Northern Colorado on Sept. 17, finishing with three goals and three assists against the Bears, one shy of tying the school record in each category. That effort ranks Timko fourth in the country for most assists in a game and ranks her sixth in the country for most points in a game. Twice this season she had games where she scored three goals or notched three assists. She also tied the school record with five game-winning assists this season.

In an outstanding season, Timko was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week three times, and also garnered three-time recognition on Soccer America’s National Team of the Week and Soccer Buzz’s Elite Team of the Week.

Andrews, a transfer from Southern Methodist, has started every game this season and has scored three goals and added four assists to total 10 points. She has also played a crucial role in the Huskers’ defense that is allowing just 1.25 goals per game and has recorded six shutouts in 2004. Andrews was also the only Nebraska player named to the All-Big 12 newcomer team.

Dennis is in her second year with Nebraska after only playing in two games last season because of injuries and her commitment to the Canadian National Team. Dennis started the year with a more offensive role, scoring three goals in the Huskers’ first three games including a career-best two-goal performance against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 3. She has moved into more of a defensive role as the season progressed and earned All-Big 12 honors at defender.

Nebraska’s three first-team selections were the most since four Huskers earned first-team honors in 2000. Last season, the late Jenna Cooper (first team) and Jessie Bruch (all-newcomer team) were the only players to earn All-Big 12 recognition.

Nebraska, which finished fifth in the Big 12 with a 12-7 overall record and a 6-4 mark in league play, opens the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday with a 1:30 p.m. contest against fourth-seeded Texas. The Huskers defeated the Longhorns, 4-3, on Oct. 8, but UT has not lost since that game. Meanwhile, Nebraska, which has won a league-best five titles in the eight-year history of the tournament, will be looking to advance to the semifinals for the ninth consecutive year.

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.