The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer puts two student-athletes on All-Big 12 Teams
11.18.2020 | Soccer
Julia Grosso earned her third straight league accolade, while Presley Echols picked up All-Freshman honors
AUSTIN, Texas – According to a Wednesday announcement from the league office, Texas soccer had two players pick up All-Big 12 Conference accolades as junior midfielder Julia Grosso was selected to the All-Big 12 Conference Second Team, while rookie forward Presley Echols was tabbed to the Big 12 Conference All-Freshman Team.
For Grosso, the league honor is the third of her career following a second team nod in 2018 and a first team inclusion in 2019. With two players on the all-league squads, Texas soccer now owns 72 combined All-Big 12 selections, while Echols received UT's 35th overall all-freshman inclusion.
Despite the shortened, league-only season, Grosso still managed to make a strong impression on the pitch for the Longhorns. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native started all nine matches in the midfield (played 797 of 810 possible minutes) and tied for the team lead in goals (two – tied for 10th in the Big 12) while dishing an assist and finishing tied for third on the squad in total points (five). During the nine-match campaign, Grosso managed to score goals in consecutive contests for the first time in her illustrious career by tickling the twine in the 2-1 loss at No. 7 West Virginia (Oct. 2) and during the 7-0 rout of Kansas State (Oct. 9). Over the past two seasons, the Canadian international has scored 10 goals on her last 28 shots on frame, good enough for a 36% shot efficiency mark.
Echols didn't receive her first playing time on the Forty Acres until Sept. 25, but made an immediate impact in her UT debut by scoring her first career goal and match-winner during the 1-0 "Red River Rivalry" win over Oklahoma. The freshman forward ended her initial campaign in the Burnt Orange & White tied with Haley Berg for the team lead in goals (two – tied for 10th in the Big 12), assists (two – tied for fourth in the Big 12) and points (six – tied for ninth in the Big 12). Echols also managed to tickle the twine during Texas' 7-0 rout of Kansas State (Oct. 9). For her efforts, the Dallas, Texas, product was twice chosen as an honorable mention selection to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week (Sept. 29 & Oct. 13).
