The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 18 Soccer places four on the United Soccer Coaches All-Region teams
11.29.2017 | Soccer
The four selections are the most for the Longhorns program in a single season since the 2007 campaign
AUSTIN, Texas – A memorable 2017 campaign has resulted in more accolades for No. 18 Texas soccer (14-4-3) as sophomore forward Cyera Hintzen and freshman midfielder Haley Berg were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team while sophomore defender Atu Mshana and junior midfielder Katie Glenn reaped United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team honors.
The four total selections are the most for the Longhorns since receiving four nods back during the 2007 campaign and improve UT's all-region honor total to an even 50 dating back to 1995.
As the only freshman to earn first team All-South Region honors, Berg wasted no time making a strong impression for the Longhorns in 2017. The Celina, Texas, native completed her inaugural collegiate campaign ranked in a tie for fourth in the Big 12 Conference in match-winning goals (three), dead-locked for sixth in total goals (six) and tied for eighth in overall points (16). She earned consecutive Big 12 Freshman of the Week accolades (Sept. 26 and Oct. 3) on the strength of a match-winning goal to beat Iowa State (Sept. 22, W, 1-0) and a score at 18:53 to open an eventual 3-2 (2OT) triumph over rival Texas Tech. Her additional two match-winners occurred during a 2-1 victory over Little Rock (Aug. 25) and via "golden goal" at the 92:30 mark to power the Longhorns past Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., back on Oct. 15, 1-0 (OT). In her first career NCAA Tournament action, during a 3-0 victory over North Texas (Nov. 10), Berg registered a goal and an assist to tie for the third-most points (three) in a single NCAA match in Longhorns history. The reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year also rated third on the Texas roster in total shots (42) and shots on goal (20) while playing 1,627 of 2,005 possible minutes.
An All-Big 12 First Team selection and a winner of three consecutive Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week accolades (Sept. 19 & 26, Oct. 3), Hintzen followed up her standout rookie campaign with a breakout sophomore season in 2017. The Garland, Texas, native topped the league in total points (25), tied for the Big 12 lead in goals (10) and tied for eighth in assists (five). Demonstrating a true flair for the dramatic, four of Hintzen's Big 12-leading six match-winners occurred during the 82nd minute or later. Included were goals to top No. 5 West Virginia (87:40, W, 1-0) and North Texas (81:48, W, 1-0) as well as "golden goals" to defeat both UTRGV (97:13, W, 1-0, OT) and Texas Tech (101:32, W, 3-2, 2OT) in extra time. She was also the offensive leader for the Longhorns once the squad entered the NCAA Tournament, posting a team-leading three total goals, including a program record-tying two goals during the 3-0 victory over North Texas (Nov. 10).
On the way to earning her first career All-Big 12 honor as a junior, Glenn captained the midfield for the Longhorns while rating third on the squad in goals (five) and total points (13). The Round Rock, Texas, native often delivered in the clutch for the Burnt Orange & White, tying for fourth in the league with three match-winning scores to defeat Sacramento State, No. 25 Colorado and Baylor. She was tabbed as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the initial time in her career back on Sept. 12, after scoring two goals and dishing an assist for five combined points during victories over Northeastern and the nationally-ranked Buffaloes. During her career, Glenn has now started 40 of 51 matches played and totaled eight career goals and four assists.
A cornerstone of the UT backline, having started and played every available minute of 39 possible matches during her Texas career, Mshana helped lead the Longhorns defense to a program record-tying 11 shutouts and the second-lowest goals-against-average (0.72) in school history during the 2017 campaign. The Garland, Texas, native also earned a national plaudit as the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week back on Sept. 26 after helping the Texas defense shutout No. 5 West Virginia (1-0) for only the second time in the Mountaineers last 28 matches. Once the calendar advanced to the postseason, Mshana even managed to climb into the stat column offensively by dishing an assist on Hintzen's second goal during a 3-0, NCAA Tournament First Round rout of North Texas.
