Castans, Watts, Gregorski Garner All-Big 12 Accolades

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Three Jayhawks have earned All-Big 12 honors, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Sophomore defender Caroline Castans and junior forward Lexi Watts have been named to the All-Big 12 First Team, while freshman midfielder Jillian Gregorski received a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

For the first time since 2019, and in the first season under head coach Nate Lie, Kansas had at least one player selected to the All-Big 12 First Team. With Castans, Watts and Gregorski all receiving postseason honors it is also the first time since 2019 that Kansas had three players earn All-Big 12 recognition.

Castans, a versatile wingback, has scored two goals and recorded five assists this season. The Flower Mound, Texas, native has started all 18 regular season matches. Castans leads all Kansas field players this season with 1,428 minutes played. Her five assists are tied for 10th in the conference. On Oct. 28, Castans was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week following her first career multi-goal performance.

"Caroline is a major key to everything that we do," Lie said. "She has an incredible engine and fitness level. Her ability to play both sides of the ball with equal intentionality is a big reason that we have found success down the stretch of the season. Carol is so effective in our build and delivers the most consistent, dangerous service in the attacking third. She's very deserving of being on the first team."

Watts, a dynamic attacker, has career highs of seven goals and 17 points to go along with three assists on the season. She has scored all seven of her goals in the final 11 matches. A native of Lenexa, Kansas, Watts scored six of her goals in conference games, which was the fifth-most in league action. She is tied for the Big 12 lead with four game-winning goals. Her 17 points are also tied for the most on the team. Watts had her second career multi-goal effort on Sept. 26 against UCF.

"Our staff is very grateful for Lexi," Lie said. "Her willingness and dedication to defend up top is one of the key reasons that our press works. She sets the example of what selflessness and sacrifice looks like on our team. Lexi's ability to be dangerous going towards the goal makes our team significantly better. It's been fun to see her produce in conference play and score some big goals in the second half of the season."

Gregorski, a gritty midfielder, led the team as a freshman this season with eight goals. She also added an assist and was tied for the most points on the team with 17. Her eight goals are tied for the 10th-most in the nation among Division I freshmen and tied for the most among freshmen in the Big 12. It's also the most goals scored by a Kansas freshman since Ashley Williams in 2012. The Wethersfield, Connecticut, native recorded her first career hat trick and the 11th in program history (ninth player) on Sept. 15 against Friends to earn Big 12 Freshman of the Week honors.

"The impact and personality that Jill has added to our attack as a freshman cannot be understated," Lie said. "She is our most hungry goal scorer when she's at her best. Her knack for being in the right spots has rewarded her with several goals this season. Jill has been extremely brave in challenging for the ball in the 18s. She's playing her best soccer right now and that's really exciting for us and her future."

Castans and Watts are the 14th and 15th Jayhawks to receive All-Big 12 First Team honors in program history. Gregorski is the 27th Kansas player to be selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, including the 14th student-athlete in the last 14 seasons. Kansas has had at least one Jayhawk on the All-Big 12 Teams in 24 of the last 25 seasons since the current format began in 2000.

University of Kansas Athletics

Castans, Watts, Gregorski Garner All-Big 12 Accolades

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Caroline Castans

Jillian Gregorski

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