IRVING, Texas — No. 7 BYU women’s soccer earned eight All-Big 12 honors in its first year in the conference. Laveni Vaka, Brecken Mozingo, Kendell Petersen, Olivia Wade-Katoa, Allie Fryer, Ellie Walbruch, Lynette Hernaez and Camryn Jorgensen earned First, Second and All-Freshman Team selections.
Honors were chosen by the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own student-athletes. A tie resulted in an additional member on the All-Freshman team.
In their first year in the Big 12 Conference, the Cougars went undefeated, 7-0-3, and posted an overall record of 14-1-3. BYU tallied 58 goals and 60 assists through 18 games, the second highest in the nation.
The following Cougars were All-Big 12 First Team selections:
Laveni Vaka
As BYU’s starting center back, Vaka played and started in all 18 matches this season, totaling a team-high 1,570 minutes on the pitch. She was ranked No. 34 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100. Vaka’s strength, athleticism and timing on tackles helped the Cougars notch six shutouts this season, five against Big 12 opponents. The MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist candidate had several key defensive stops against some of the nation’s best offenses, including UCLA and Texas Tech.
Brecken Mozingo
As a starting midfielder for the Cougars, Mozingo tallied nine goals, 10 assists and a team-high 53 shots this season. She has tallied six assists in the last four games for the Cougars. The MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist candidate is 4-for-4 on penalty kicks this season. Her 258 career shots and 32 career assists put her at No. 7 overall in BYU’s record book in both categories. Currently ranked No. 9 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100, Mozingo’s ball skills and ability to shoot from outside the 18-yard box has helped the Cougar offense become one of the most dominant offenses in the nation.
The following Cougars were All-Big 12 Second Team selections:
Kendell Petersen
As a starting defender, Petersen saw 1,195 minutes on the pitch this season. She currently leads the team, along with teammate Mozingo, in assists with 10, which is a career high. She also tallied one goal and 28 shots this season, being a dominant force on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for the Cougars.
Olivia Wade-Katoa
Starting all 18 games for the Cougars in the center midfield position, Wade-Katoa tallied 1,331 minutes on the pitch. Currently ranked No. 21 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100, she tallied seven goals, six assists and 48 shots for BYU this season. Wade-Katoa’s speed in transition helped the Cougars overcome three early-game deficits, notching two game-winning goals in their undefeated conference season.
Starting and playing in all but one match for the Cougars this season, Fryer has tallied nine goals, one assist and 45 shots in 895 minutes on the pitch. Fryer’s nine goals is tied with teammates Erin Bailey and Mozingo for the most goals on the team through 18 games.
The UCLA transfer sophomore has become one of BYU’s most effective offensive players. With 824 minutes on the pitch, she has tallied eight goals, four assists and 42 shots this season. In the last eight games, Walbruch has scored five goals for the Cougars.
The following Cougars were All-Big 12 All-Freshman Team selections:
As a freshman transfer, Hernaez has played in 10 games, recording six wins and three shutouts between the woodwork for the Cougars. With 31 total saves this season, Hernaez recorded a .838 save percentage. In BYU’s shutout victory against Oklahoma, Hernaez tallied a career-high seven saves, earning her Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the first time.
Camryn Jorgensen
Playing in 13 games this season, Jorgensen has totaled 325 minutes on the pitch as a defender. She tallied back-to-back assists in BYU’s shutout victories over Kansas State (2-0) and Oklahoma State (3-0).
Below is the full list of the 2023 All-Big 12 Award Winners:
Forward of the Year: Trinity Byars, Texas
Midfielder of the Year: Lexi Missimo, Texas
Defender of the Year: Hannah Anderson, Texas Tech
Goalkeeper of the Year: Madison White, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year: Sam Courtwright, Texas Tech
Coach of the Year: Tom Stone, Texas Tech*
First Team
GK Madison White, Texas Tech
D Laveni Vaka, BYU
D Hannah Anderson, Texas Tech
D Macy Blackburn, Texas Tech
MF Brecken Mozingo, BYU
MF Gracie Brian, TCU
MF Lexi Missimo, Texas*
MF Sam Courtwright, Texas Tech
F Seven Castain, TCU
F Trinity Byars, Texas*
F Ashleigh Williams, Texas Tech
Second Team
GK Mia Justus, Texas
D Kendell Petersen, BYU
D Grace Coppinger, TCU
D Olivia Hasler, TCU
MF Olivia Wade-Katoa, BYU
MF Xcaret Pineda, Oklahoma State
MF Oli Pena, TCU
F Ellie Walbruch, BYU
F Allie Fryer, BYU
F Dayana Martin, UCF
F Alex Kerr, Texas Tech
All-Freshman
Callie Conrad, Baylor
Lynette Hernaez, BYU
Camryn Jorgensen, BYU
Jessica McCullen, UCF
Aryanna Jimison, Houston
Chloé Joseph, Oklahoma State
Laudan Wilson, Oklahoma State
Avery Clark, Texas
Carly Montgomery, Texas
Sam Courtwright, Texas Tech
Chloe Soto, Texas Tech
Jordyn Wilson, West Virginia
*unanimous selection