Kendall, Amanda, first team. Kendall defensive POY

11/6/2012 12:12:00 PM
SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- Portland junior Kendall Johnson, who missed all of the 2011 season due to an injury, was named the West Coast Conference’s 2012 Defender of the Year, while Amanda Frisbie joined Johnson on the All-WCC First Team. Eight Pilots total garnered all-league honors, which matches BYU for the league high.

Johnson started every game at left back this season for the Pilots and registered two goals and four assists on the season. The Portland native and Lincoln High School graduate helped the Pilots post eight shutouts on the season, three coming during league play. Johnson becomes the fifth Pilot player to win the conference’s top defender award, joining an impressive group of Jessica Tsao (2010), Stephanie Lopez (2005, 2007), Imani Dorsey (2003), and Lauren Orlandos (2000, 2002).

Johnson landed on the All-WCC Second Team as a sophomore in 2010 and she was the league’s co-freshman of the year in 2009.

This is the first all-conference honor for Frisbie, a junior forward who is having a breakout season. She ended the regular season as the league leader in goals (12) and points (32) and she’s second in the WCC in assists (9). The McKinney, Texas, native also has three game-winners, scored four goals during a win over Fresno State and is the reigning WCC Player of the Month. She’s also been named the league’s player of the week twice.

Portland junior Michelle Cruz and sophomore Rebekah Kurle both landed on the All-WCC Second Team. Cruz has found her scoring touch recently, tallying four goals in the last four games. The midfielder also has six assists this fall. Kurle, a sophomore holding midfielder, has four goals this season and two game-winners. She scored two goals during last Saturday’s 5-0 win over San Francisco.

Senior defender Taylor Brooke, junior goalkeeper Erin Dees and freshman midfielder Noelle La Prevotte received honorable mention for their performances during conference play.

La Prevotte was joined on the All-WCC Freshman team by Portland midfielder Devlyn Jeter.

Conference champion BYU earned four of the conference’s five major awards. Cougars senior Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall is the WCC Player of the Year, junior Erica Owens is the Goalkeeper of the Year, forward Michele Murphy is the Freshman of the Year, and head coach Jennifer Rockwood is the WCC Coach of the Year. All five awards, along with the all-conference teams, were voted on by the WCC’s nine head coaches.

For the second straight year and third time since 2005, four WCC teams will compete for the NCAA’s Women’s Soccer College Cup. Joining the Pilots in the NCAA Postseason are BYU, Pepperdine and Santa Clara.

Portland begins its run to the College Cup with a first-round match against the Washington State Cougars at Merlo Field on Friday night at 7 p.m.

2012 West Coast Conference Player of the Year
Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, Sr., D, BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Kendall Johnson, Jr., Portland

2012 West Coast Conference Goalkeeper of the Year
Erica Owens, Jr., BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year
Michele Murphy, F, BYU

2012 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year
Jennifer Rockwood, BYU

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE FIRSTTEAM
Player, Yr., Pos., School
Cloee Colohan, Jr., M, BYU
Lindsi Lisonbee Cutshall, Sr., D, BYU
Amanda Frisbie, Jr., F, Portland
Anisa Guajardo, Sr., M/F, Pepperdine
Sofia Huerta, So., F, Santa Clara
Kendall Johnson, Jr., D, Portland
Julie Johnston, Jr., M, Santa Clara
Michelle Pao, Jr., D, Pepperdine
Jessica Ringwood, Sr., F, BYU
Danielle Russell, Sr., D, San Diego
Lynn Williams, So., F, Pepperdine

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Player, Yr., Pos., School
Jenni Benger, So., D, Loyola Marymount
Michelle Cruz, Jr., M, Portland
Carlee Payne Holmoe, Sr., F, BYU
Mackenzie Krieser, So., F, San Francisco
Rebekah Kurle, So., M, Portland
Rachel Manning, Jr., M, BYU
Meghan O’Rourke, So., D/M, San Diego
Erica Owens, Jr., GK, BYU
Whitney Sharpe, Sr., D, Loyola Marymount
Meleana Shim, Sr., M, Santa Clara
Allie Vernon, Jr., D, Santa Clara

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine); Taylor Brooke (Portland); Megan Connor (San Francisco); Erin Dees (Portland); Etajha Gilmer (Loyola Marymount); Cricket Harber (Gonzaga); Mariah Hobbs (San Diego); Noelle La Prevotte (Portland); Lauren Luke (Gonzaga); Melinda Madden (Saint Mary’s); Morgan Manchester (Gonzaga); Lauren Matheson (Santa Clara); Kelley McCloskey (San Diego); Cori McGovern (Loyola Marymount); Christina Moberg (San Francisco); Michele Murphy (BYU); Vicki Shimkus (Saint Mary’s); Kelsea Smith (Pepperdine); Dani Weatherholt (Santa Clara)

2012 ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN TEAM
Player, Pos., School
Jocelyn Blankenship, F/M, Loyola Marymount
Mandy Davis, F/D, Pepperdine
Meggie Gulczynski, D, San Diego
Paige Hunt, D, BYU
Devlyn Jeter, M, Portland
Noelle La Prevotte, M, Portland
Lauren Luke, F, Gonzaga
Michele Murphy, F, BYU
McKenna Tollack, GK, San Diego
Andi Tostanoski, GK, Santa Clara
Dani Weatherholt, M, Santa Clara