The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
08.07.2019 | Soccer
Hintzen, Berg, Grosso and Regan all reaped honors as the Longhorns boasted 33% of the 12-player squad
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas soccer senior forward Cyera Hintzen, junior midfielder/forward Haley Berg, sophomore midfielder Julia Grosso and sophomore defender Emma Regan have all been tabbed to the 12-member 2019 Preseason All-Big 12 Team, according to a Wednesday release by the league office.
The four selections tied for the second-most by the Longhorns in program history (four in 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2002), trailing only the 2003 Texas squad's five total nods. With the four inclusions, Texas boasted 33% of this year's Big 12 Conference Preseason All-Big 12 squad as West Virginia and TCU followed with two selections each.
For Hintzen, this marks the third straight season that she's been included as part of the league's preseason squad, while Berg reaped her second consecutive accolade.
A two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, Hintzen prepares to begin her final season on the Forty Acres with 22 career goals (tied for sixth in UT history), 14 career assists (tied for 10th) and 58 career points (ninth). She's coming off a 2018 campaign that saw her lead the league in assists (nine) and total points (29) while finishing tied for second in goals (10) on her way to earning Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Berg, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region and All-Big 12 selection, is coming off a sophomore campaign that saw her register six goals (tied for 10th in the Big 12) and dish three assists for 15 total points. The Celina, Texas, product managed point-scoring streaks of four and three matches and totaled two points in a contest on seven separate occasions. She also powered the Longhorns during the 2019 spring campaign by scoring a remarkable 10 goals over just five matches, including hat tricks in victories over St. Edward's and Monterrey Tech.
A roster inclusion for the Canadian Women's Senior National Team at the recent 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2018 Big 12 Conference Co-Freshman of the Year, Grosso preps for her second campaign on the Forty Acres. As a rookie, the Vancouver, British Columbia, native played in 13 total matches with 11 starts (missed eight total matches because of international duty), totaling 931 minutes on the pitch with two goals on just seven shots on goal. Those two scores came over a span of just 6:04 of the second half to help boost the Longhorns past Kansas State, 4-0.
Another capped member of the Canadian Women's Senior National Team, Regan stepped right in as a dependable member of the Longhorns back line as a freshman in 2018. Despite missing seven contests for international duty, the Burnaby, British Columbia, product appeared in 14 matches with 13 starts, playing 1,077 minutes while registering her first two career collegiate assists during victories over UCF and Northern Colorado.
Texas will open its 2019 campaign on Fri., Aug. 16, by hosting an exhibition match at Mike A. Myers Stadium against Air Force at 7 p.m. CT. The contest will be broadcast live on Longhorn Network. Admission will also be free to all those wishing to attend.
2019 PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 TEAM
Pos. Name, School Class Hometown
GK Rylee Foster, West Virginia* Sr. Cambridge, Ontario
D Kayley Ables, Baylor~ So. Waco, Texas
D Kim Rodriguez, Oklahoma State^ Jr. Porter, Texas
D Emma Regan, Texas So. Burnaby, British Columbia
D Cassie Hiatt, Texas Tech~ So. Parker, Colo.
D Jordan Brewster, West Virginia^~ So. North Canton, Ohio
MF Yazmeen Ryan, TCU* Jr. Norman, Okla.
MF Haley Berg, Texas* Jr. Celina, Texas
MF Julia Grosso, Texas^~ So. Vancouver, British Columbia
F Kaylee Dao, Oklahoma* Sr. Tulsa, Okla.
F Messiah Bright, TCU^ So. Dallas, Texas
F Cyera Hintzen, Texas* Sr. Garland, Texas
* - 2018 All-Big 12 First Team honoree
^ - 2018 All-Big 12 Second Team honoree
~ - 2018 Big 12 All-Freshman Team honoree
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Note: A tie resulted in an additional defender selection.
