Nov. 1, 1999

DALLAS, Texas - The Big 12 Conference announced the 1999 Soccer Academic All-Big 12 Team on Monday. Texas Tech had seven student-athletes named to the first-team: seniors Lizzy Biles, Cece Dillon and Ashlyn Peterson, junior Lindsay Thompson and sophomores Brittney Peese, Lauren Taylor and Marie Valez.

On the squad there are 32 repeat performers from previous soccer academic all-conference teams including 12 soccer players having been named to the academic team for the fourth time. These seniors included Baylor's Meghan Crona, Colorado's Shawn Kenyon, Kansas' Cynthia Dahle and Lindsey Loeffler, Iowa State's Alicia Rollison, Missouri's Heather Buchheit, Kate Dwyer and Jenny Kram, Texas A&M's Mandy Davidson and Texas Tech's Biles, Dillon and Peterson.

Three soccer standouts were nominated having earned a 4.0 grade point average either cumulative or the two previous semesters. These include Dahle of Kansas, junior KU teammate Meghan Haven and Oklahoma sophomore Jonette Coquat (those with 4.0 GPAs are indicated with a * on the list below).

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the soccer student-athletes earned such distinction following new criteria set up by the faculty athletic representatives (FARs) last summer. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.2 or better grade-point average, while the second-team are those who have a 3.0 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are eligible.

Many of these student-athletes will be in competition at the fourth Big 12 Conference Soccer Tournament at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 3-6. Action begins Wednesday with the championship on Saturday under the new eight-team format. Nebraska is the defending Big 12 tourney champ and the Huskers enter the event as the No. 1 seed, having won the 1999 regular-season title. Complete brackets and schedules for the 1999 Big 12 Conference Soccer Tournament are available at the league's website at www.big12sports.com

1999 Soccer Academic All-Big 12
First Team (3.20-plus grade point average, *indicates nominated with a 4.0 GPA)

Second Team (3.0-3.19 grade point average)