The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer standouts Moore and Carpenter named 2006 NSCAA All-Americans
12.01.2006 | Soccer
MISSION, Kan. -- Sophomore defender Kasey Moore became the first UT soccer player to earn a place on the 11-member first team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas All-Americans and junior forward Kelsey Carpenter joins her as a member of the second team, announced by the national governing body of soccer coaches on Friday, Dec. 1.
It marks the second time in program history that multiple Texas soccer players were cited as All-Americans in the same season. They are the fourth and fifth UT student-athletes on the NSCAA All-American list as only three other Longhorns have earned All-American honors. Kelly Wilson in 2001 (second team) and 2002 (third team), Kati McBain in 2002 (third team), and Texas' last All-American Kelly McDonald in 2003 (second team) are the only UT players to have been recognized by the coaches association.
"When we recruited Kasey we knew she was talented and had the potential," said head coach Chris Petrucelli, who just ended his eighth season on the Forty Acres. "It's nice to see everyone recognized it. In order to be an All-American it takes time to build a reputation. She's obviously won a lot of people on her side who think she's a quality player."
"Kelsey's goal-scoring ability carried us a long way this year," continued Petrucelli. "Typically when you score goals you get recognition. But she was an important art of our team."
Moore (Mission Viejo, Calif.) was an integral member of the back line of defense for a Texas team that held its opponents to the second lowest goals allowed total in history with 20. She anchored the center back position aiding in holding some of the top players in the conference and the nation scoreless throughout the season.
The only Longhorn to start all 25 games this season, Moore was also a threat on offense, often coming out of the backline to attack the opposing team's goal. Four times this year, Moore put UT on the board, including the most important goal of the year, which came in a 1-0 upset win over fifth-ranked Texas A&M. Additionally, she chipped in two assists in 2006 to raise her sesason point total to 10 points, a season high for a Longhorn defender.
"It feels amazing," said Moore. "This honor was not expected. I'm shocked and excited. This award is definitely a reflection of our team. I couldn't have done it without my teammates and the coaching staff. If I were not apart of a great team, I would not have gotten the recognition. We just have the mentality that nothing is getting behind our defense. Our entire team has that mentality. We're going to do whatever we can to do that. If it takes sacrificing our bodies and giving it our all on the field, that's what we're going to do. The defense had the tenacity and fight because we wanted to give our forwards a chance to score and win the game."
The Texas soccer program, led by eighth-year head coach Chris Petrucelli, had one of the best years in the history of the program, boasting an 18-4-3 overall record and finishing the Big 12 season with an 8-1-1 record, and its first Big 12 Soccer Postseason Championship. The Longhorns set UT highs in wins (18), regular season victories (15) and road wins (7). UT shattered the school record in shutouts with 10 (prior best was eight). Entering the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships, Texas earned its first number one national seed and tied its furthest advancement into the tourney, playing in the third round for the just the second time ever.
"It was an overall great year," said Moore. "From the records and awards, it was awesome. It was great just doing all the things we have never done before. The highlight was beating A&M at home. Seeing how many fans came out and hearing the crowd was great. The entire year was exciting, from that to winning the Big 12 Soccer Championship in penalty kicks."
For her stingy defense, Moore was recognized individually this season as an NSCAA All-Central Region honoree (second time in her career) and All-Big 12 Conference preseason, regular season and tournament team selections. After the upset win over the Aggies', Moore was cited as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and Soccer America National Player of the Week.
Moore ended the 2006 season as one of the team leaders this year in terms of scoring. She was tied for fourth overall in points (10) and goals (four), and tied for fifth in the assists (two) category.
"She deserves it," commented fellow All-American Carpenter, who was equally excited for Moore's selection as her own. "(Kasey's) a quality and solid player. If you look around the country, you would be really hard-pressed to find a more solid defender than her."
Since walking on the Forty Acres, Moore has received national attention, as she was named to Soccer America All-Freshman Team last year and the 2005 Big 12 Rookie of the Year, as one of the best freshman in the country.
Moore is one of two representatives from the Big 12 Conference on the first team, as Oklahoma State's Yolanda Odenyo was also named to the team.
Joining Moore on the All-American list from Texas is Carpenter (Allen, Texas) who exploded on the offensive scene in 2006, setting career bests in goals with 15 and points with 35, and steadily climbing the single season and career all-time lists. Carpenter owns the game-winning goals category, as she is first on the all-time single season list with eight and third on the career GWG list. Her single season goal total is not only the best in her three years on the Forty Acres but also the second highest in a single season by any UT player. Her point total is the most scored by a junior and places her at No. 4 on Texas' all-time single season list.
"It's definitely an honor because there are a lot of talented players in the game now," said Carpenter. "This honor helps in getting us on the map because we are showing the country that we can produce quality players. Winning a title and getting as far as we did in the tournament add up and help prove that Texas is a quality program."
Carpenter's overall offensive numbers over the years have improved steadily as she has moved into the top 10 in all of UT's offensive categories. She is third in UT history in career points (73) and goals (29), and seventh all-time in assists with 15.
Over the course of 2006 season, Carpenter recorded the first hat trick since Kelly Wilson on Sept. 17, 2004, scoring three times and assisting another goal in a 4-2 win over LSU on Wednesday, Sept. 13. She was also named Soccer America National Player of the Week after scoring game-winning-goals against two top-15 teams to help UT upset No. 3 Penn State and 11th-ranked Illinois earlier in the season.
Carpenter was also selected the 2006 Big 12 Soccer Postseason Championship Offensive Most Valuable Performer after scoring three goals in three matches, including the game-winner against Nebraska and Oklahoma State and the game-tying goal in the Big 12 title match against Colorado. UT tied the Buffaloes and won the title on penalty kicks.
"What you have is a situation where Kelsey has the stats and Kasey has the same kind of impact on the defense," said Petrucelli. "But you don't see Kasey's numbers. As a team, we had a wonderful season and these two were two of the main reasons why."
Carpenter joins Texas A&M's Ashlee Pistorius as the conference representatives on the second-team.
