Marlborough Named Big 12 Offensive Player, Newcomer of the Year

Morgan Marlborough became just the third freshman in league history to earn the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year award, as the conference announced her as the winner of the 2009 honor on Wednesday. Marlborough was also named Big 12 Rookie of the Year as she led three Huskers to All-Big 12 accolades, joining senior Carly Peetz (All-Big 12 First Team) and sophomore Molly Thomas (All-Big 12 Second Team).

Marlborough is the sixth Husker to win a player-of-the-year honor and the first to do so since Brittany Timko in 2006. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native led the Big 12 Conference with 21 goals and ranked fifth-place tie for assists with seven. Marlborough separated herself from the rest of the Big 12 field in scoring, as her 21 goals and 49 points were well ahead of the league's second-highest scorer, Oklahoma's Whitney Palmer (15 goals, 32 points). Marlborough entered this week tied for the NCAA goal-lead with Portland's Danielle Foxhaven. This year, she produced two hat tricks, including a school-record four goals against Akron, and broke the NU freshman single-season goal record just 14 games into the season. She ranks fourth and fifth all-time on the Husker single-season goal and point charts.

Peetz earned the third All-Big 12 award of her career, as she was on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team in 2006 and a Second-Team All-Big 12 pick in 2008. The defender has had her best offensive season this fall, scoring four goals and adding three assists. She has started every game of her Husker career, a streak of 79 that is tied for the eighth-most starts in NU history.

Thomas is an All-Big 12 honoree for the second consecutive year, as she was part of the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team in 2008. This year, the sophomore ranks sixth in the conference in goals (8) and seventh in assists (6). The Omaha, Neb., native ended the regular season on a very strong note against Iowa State, scoring the tying goal with 18 minutes remaining and contributing the game-winning assist in overtime.

With Marlborough and Peetz, Nebraska now has 42 first-team honors all-time and 67 spots on the all-conference teams overall. The Huskers have had at least three All-Big 12 selections 12 times in the 14-year history of the program.

2009 All-Big 12 Conference Soccer Awards
Coach of the Year
Bryan Blitz, Missouri

Offensive Player of the Year
Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, F, Fr.

Defensive Player of the Year
Crystal Wagner, Missouri, D, Sr.

Rookie of the Year
Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, F, Fr.

All-Big 12 First Team
GK:     Adrianna Franch, Oklahoma State, Fr., Salina, Kan.      
D:      Crystal Wagner, Missouri, Sr., Houston, Texas
D:      Carly Peetz, Nebraska, Sr., Lincoln, Neb.
D:      Melinda Mercado, Oklahoma State, So., Sapulpa, Okla.    
MF:     Taylor Lytle, Texas Tech, So., Las Cruces, New Mexico
MF:     Rachel Shipley, Texas A&M, Jr., Plano, Texas   
MF:     Annika Niemeier, Oklahoma State, Sr., Wylie, Texas      
F:      Nikki Marshall, Colorado, Sr., Mead, Colo.
F:      Whitney Palmer, Oklahoma, Jr., Plano, Texas
F:      Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, Fr., Lee's Summit, Mo.
F:      Kristin Andrighetto, Missouri, Sr., Pleasant Hill, Calif.

All-Big 12 Second Team
GK:     Tasha Dittamore, Missouri, Sr., Granite City, Ill.     
D:      Amy Barczuk, Colorado, Fr., Centennial, Colo.
D:      Emily Peterson, Texas A&M, Sr., Tulsa, Okla.   
D:      Estelle Johnson, Kansas, Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.       
MF:     Monica Dolinsky, Kansas, Sr., Carmel, Ind.
MF:     Molly Thomas, Nebraska, So., Omaha, Neb.       
MF:     Alyssa Mautz, Texas A&M, Jr., O'Fallen, Mo.
F:      Whitney Hooper, Texas A&M, Jr., Houston, Texas 
F:      Kasey Langdon, Oklahoma State, Sr., Wylie, Texas       
F:      Michelle Collins, Missouri, Sr., Naperville, Ill.      
F:      Whitney Berry, Kansas, Fr., Wichita, Kan.

Big 12 All-Newcomer Team**
GK:     Adrianna Franch, Oklahoma State, Fr., Salina, Kan.              
D:      Amy Barczuk, Colorado, Fr., Centennial, Colo.   
D:      Carson Michalowski, Oklahoma State, Fr., Plano, Texas  
D:      Morgan Johnson, Texas Tech, Fr., Arlington, Texas
D:      Mary Grace Schmidt, Texas A&M, Fr., Orange, Calif.
MF:     Sophie Campise, Texas, Fr., Dallas, Texas      
MF:     Tiffini Smith, Texas Tech, Fr., Fort Worth, Texas
MF:     Erin Bricker, Colorado, Fr., Moraga, Calif.
F:      Morgan Marlborough, Nebraska, Fr., Lee's Summit, Mo.    
F:      Dawn Ward, Texas Tech, Fr., Midland, Texas
F:      Whitney Berry, Kansas, Fr., Wichita, Kan.
F:      Hannah Higgins, Texas, Fr., Flower Mound, Texas        
**Ties in voting created additional newcomer team positions

Nebraska's Big 12 Conference Player of the Year Award Winners
Morgan Marlborough, Forward (2009) (Big 12 Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year)
Brittany Timko, Forward (2004, 2005, 2006*)
Christine Latham, Forward (2000, 2001)
Sharolta Nonen, Defender (1999)
Kim Essenger, Forward (1998)
Kari Uppinghouse, Midfielder (1996*)
*The Big 12 began separate offensive, defensive and rookie of the year awards in 2007
*indicates co-player of the year