The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer places three on the All-Big 12 Conference teams
11.02.2015 | Soccer
Smith earns first-team honors; Adams named to second team and also joins Flores on all-freshman squad
AUSTIN, Texas – According to an announcement by the league office on Monday afternoon, Texas soccer had three players reap Big 12 All-Conference honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Senior goalkeeper Abby Smith was tabbed to the first team, while freshman forward Alexa Adams earned a second team nod and also joined redshirt freshman Mikayla Flores as part of the all-freshman team.
The trio's selection marks the sixth consecutive season that the Longhorns have registered three or more all-conference players.
On the pitch, Smith has recorded quite a senior campaign for the Burnt Orange & White, registering a 0.88 goals-against-average, six shutouts, a Big 12 Conference-leading 94 saves on a league-best 5.53 saves-per-match and a .855 save percentage. Last Friday night, the Plano, Texas, native made two stops in a 3-0 victory over Montana to manage her 30th career shutout, breaking former Longhorns net minder Dianna Pfenninger's old mark established from 2005-08. Smith has previously been honored as the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions this season and picked up ESPNW National Player of the Week and CollegeSoccer.360.com Primetime Performer accolades after making 10 vital saves and registering an assist on junior forward Jasmine Hart's match-winning goal with 21 seconds left to top No. 17 Texas Tech on the road on Oct. 16, 2-1 (2OT). Earlier this season, Smith scored her third career goal on a 90-plus yard punt that served as the match-winner to down Miami (FL), 1-0.
As the top freshman scorer points-wise in the Big 12 Conference, Adams has made quite an impression during her inaugural campaign on the Forty Acres. The Lancaster, Calif., currently leads the Longhorns offense in goals (six), assists (four), total points (16) and match-winning scores (three). After totaling just two points over her first 11 matches in the Burnt Orange & White, those coming on a crucial goal that beat then-No. 8 UCLA on the road back on Sept. 6, Adams has caught fire by registering points in each of her last six contests. The six-match point streak is good enough for a tie for second longest all-time in Texas program history with Kylie Doniak, Niki Arlitt, Kelly McDonald and Kylee Wosnuck. She also managed consecutive braces (scored two goals) in victories over Iowa State (Oct. 9) and TCU (Oct. 11), and most recently, earned her second Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week nod (Nov. 2) for scoring a goal and dishing an assist during a 3-0 rout of Montana (Oct. 30).
In her inaugural campaign on the pitch at Texas, after sitting out the 2014 campaign with an injury, Flores has proven to be a dangerous offensive weapon for the Longhorns. The La Verne, Calif., product ranks second on the squad in scoring with nine points on three goals and three assists and also registered a match-winner to down Abilene Christian back on Sept. 13, 2-1. Much like her teammate Adams, Flores started her career with just two points over her first 11 matches, but has since recorded points in five of Texas' last six contests (seven of her nine points have come over that stretch). Included are a key goal at the 29:25 mark that helped the Horns upset No. 17 Texas Tech on the road back on Oct. 16, a late goal against Baylor (Oct. 25) and single assists in victories over Iowa State (Oct. 9), TCU (Oct. 11) and Montana.
Seeded third in the Big 12 Championship at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Mo., Texas opens its stay at the event on Wed., Nov. 4, with an 8 p.m. CT quarterfinal match-up against sixth-seeded Kansas. Each contest during the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be broadcast live on the Big 12 Digital Network through Big12Sports.com.
