️⚽️ Three Jayhawks Earn Spots on All-Region Squads
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas seniors Katie McClure and Addisyn Merrick, as well as junior Ceri Holland were named to the Midwest All-Region teams by the United Soccer Coaches Monday. McClure and Merrick each earned spots on the All-Region First Team for the first time in their careers, while Holland also claimed All-Region honors for the first time after being slated to the second team.
McClure, who was slotted to the All-Region team for the second time after earning a third-team nod in 2018, recently concluded one of the best seasons in KU soccer history. The All-Big 12 First Teamer posted a team- and league-leading 17 goals, the second-most in a season in program history, and added a career-high nine assists, good for second in the conference. She also netted seven game-winning goals for the second-straight season, tying her own program record. McClure posted 39 goals during her KU career, the second-most by a Jayhawk. With Monday’s announcement, McClure became just the eighth Jayhawk to claim All-Region honors at least twice in a career.
Merrick, who hails from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, was placed on the region’s first team after cementing herself as one of the nation’s top defenders this season. The Big 12’s Defender of the Year and an All-Big 12 First Team pick, Merrick played a team-high 2,278 minutes on the KU backline, a new program record. She anchored a KU defense that posted 11 shutouts, the second-most in program history, and a goals-against average of 0.78, the lowest in the Big 12 this season.
Holland concluded her junior campaign as the team’s second-leading goal scorer after netting a career-high 8 goals this season. She also posted six assists and a pair of game-winning goals en route to being named to the All-Big 12 second and All-Tournament teams.
Monday’s announcement marked just the second time that three or more Jayhawks earned spots on the All-Region teams. Following the 2004 season, Holly Gault, Meghan Miller, Caroline Smith and Amy Geha all were selected for regional teams.
Kansas finished the 2019 season at 17-5-3 overall, which included the program’s first Big 12 Tournament championship as well as an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks’ 17 wins marked the second-most in program history.
