Three Jayhawks Earn All-Big 12 Soccer Honors

Nov. 4, 2009

All-Big 12 Soccer Teams Get Acrobat Reader

SAN ANTONIO, Texas –

Three Kansas soccer players – seniors Monica Dolinsky and Estelle Johnson and freshman Whitney Berry – were named to the All-Big 12 Second Team Wednesday. Berry also garnered selection to the All-Newcomer team.

This marks the second-straight season that Dolinsky has been selected all-conference, while Johnson and Berry were honored for the first time in their careers.

Berry, a freshman forward from Wichita, Kan., has six goals, nine assists and 21 points. Her 21 points are the second-most among freshmen in the league, while her nine assists are tied for second in the Big 12. She has 13 points against conference opponents this season, including a goal in Monday’s play-in match against Texas Tech.

Dolinsky, a senior midfielder from Carmel, Ind., has scored six goals and is tied for second in the league with nine assists. Her 29 career assists are the most in Kansas history and are tied for the 17th most in Big 12 history. She has come on at the end of the season, helping KU qualify for the conference tournament – scoring two goals and three assists in her last four matches.

Johnson, a senior defender from Fort Collins, Colo., has played in all 21 matches this season and has anchored the Jayhawk defense for the past four seasons. She has scored a career-high three goals this season, including tallies against Texas A&M and Nebraska. Johnson’s 1,892 minutes played this season are the fourth-most in team history among field players.

Missouri head coach Bryan Blitz and senior defender Crystal Wagner were named Big 12 Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while Nebraska freshman Morgan Marlborough was named the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year.

The Jayhawks (12-7-2) will take on Border Showdown rival Missouri (12-5-3) in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Soccer Championship Wednesday evening at Blossom Soccer Complex in San Antonio, Texas. Kick off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Live video from the match can be seen with links at www.big12sports.com and www.kuathletics.com.

Whitney Berry

Monica Dolinsky

Estelle Johnson