Mozingo, Vaka and Wade-Katoa receive All-America honors

The United Soccer Coaches honored BYU soccer seniors Brecken Mozingo, Laveni Vaka and Olivia Wade-Katoa as NCAA Division I All-Americans. Mozingo and Vaka picked up All-America First Team honors, while Wade-Katoa earned Third Team.

Author Brenna Seeman
Mozingo, Vaka and Wade-Katoa receive All-America honorsMozingo, Vaka and Wade-Katoa receive All-America honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches honored BYU soccer seniors Brecken Mozingo, Laveni Vaka and Olivia Wade-Katoa as NCAA Division I All-Americans. Mozingo and Vaka picked up All-America First Team honors, while Wade-Katoa earned Third Team.

The Cougars are currently 20-2-3 as they head into their Semifinal matchup against Stanford Friday night in Cary, North Carolina for the 2023 NCAA College Cup. This is BYU's second College Cup appearance, the first of which was in 2021. The women’s soccer team went undefeated in Big 12 Conference play, 7-0-3 in its first year in the conference.

 

All American Mozingo

Mozingo’s career-high season places her atop the Cougars in goals (14), assists (15) and shots (83). Ranked No. 9 in the Top Drawer Soccer Midseason Top 100 rankings, Mozingo has proven to be a force in BYU’s attack, earning All-Big 12 First Team honors and being selected as a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist earlier this week. The Sandy, Utah native has 288 career shots, which ranks No. 5 in all BYU women’s soccer history. Among the 46 women’s soccer players receiving All-American recognition, Mozingo is one of nine student-athletes earning the second All-America honor of her career.

All American Vaka

As BYU’s starting center back, Vaka has played and started in all 25 matches for the Cougars, totaling a team-high 2,182 minutes on the pitch. Along with her teammate Mozingo, Vaka also earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and was selected as a Hermann Trophy Semifinalist. Also earning NCAA All-Midwest Region Team honors earlier this week, Vaka’s strength and timing on BYU’s backline has led to several key defensive stops and led the Cougars to nine shutouts this season.

 

All American Wade

Earning All-America honors for the first time of her career, Wade-Katoa has played and started in all 25 games as an attacking midfielder, totaling 1,861 minutes on the pitch. The senior captain’s 12 goals and eight assists helped BYU become an offensive force, as the No. 2 scoring offense in the nation. Her speed and precision on the ball helped the Cougars go undefeated in Big 12 conference play, notching two game-winning goals. Named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and earning NCAA All-Midwest Region Team honors, Wade-Katoa has proven to be a crucial part of BYU’s historic 2023 run.