Eight Cowgirls Named Academic All-Big 12

Oklahoma State had eight players named to the 2012 Academic All-Big 12 Conference Soccer Team.

Each of the eight players earned a spot on the first team. Junior Kristen Kelley highlighted the list as she earned first-team honors with a 4.00 grade point average.

Kelley, who has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team each of the last two years, was joined on the team by seniors Carson Michalowski, Megan Marchesano, Kassie Embrey and Alicia Gray, junior Taylor Mathews and sophomores Hayley McKinney and George Christie.

Michalowski, Marchesano and Mathews joined Kelley as multiple Academic All-Big 12 honorees. Michalowski and Marchesano each earned first-team honors for the third time in their careers, while Mathews is a two-time first-team performer.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services, the 2012 Academic All-Big 12 soccer teams consisted of 79 first-team members combined with 20 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their 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 also eligible.