Dec. 12, 2004
MISSION, Kan. - Santa Clara University women's soccer seniors Leslie Osborne and Megan Kakadelas have been named All-Americans by the National Soccer coaches Association of America, in conjunction with adidas. Osborne was named to the organization's first team, and Kakadelas earned second-team honors.
A senior midfielder from Menomonee Falls, Wis., Osborne was the Broncos' leader this past season. She was named the West Coast Conference's Defender of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to be selected as both the Player of the Year (which she accomplished in 2003) and Defender of the Year. She led the 16th-seeded Broncos to the program's 10th overall semifinal appearance, and was named to the College Cup All-Tournament team. A four-time All-WCC first team honoree, Osborne was also a semifinalist for the 2004 MAC Hermann Trophy and is a finalist for other national player of the year honors.
A team captain, Osborne was one of three players that started all 25 contests. She played mostly at holding midfielder, but also saw time at forward, and netted nine goals and one assist for 19 points this past season. She converted all three penalty kick attempts and led the team with five game-winning goals. She played the last eight weeks of the season with two torn ligaments in her right ankle, but persevered, scoring the game-winner against California in the opening round of the NCAA Championship, and helped advance her team to the College Cup with a goal in the quarterfinal against Illinois.
Kakadelas is a senior forward from Carlsbad, Calif. She scored seven goals and added seven assists to lead the Broncos with 21 points on the year. The first team All-WCC selection had 21 starts and shined during the postseason, assisting on both goals in the first round of the NCAA Championship against Cal, and following with an assist against Stanford in the second round. She scored the game-winning goal just 31 seconds in overtime against top-seeded North Carolina to make women's soccer history, as the Broncos stopped the Tar Heels from advancing to the College Cup for the first time in the Championship's 23-year tenure.
A standout in the classroom as well, Kakadelas has already received recognition as a CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII First Team honoree.
A complete list of the NSCAA/adidas All-America teams follows.
2004 NSCAA/adidas Women's Soccer All-America Team
* indicates repeat selection
First Team
G, Nicole Barnhart*, Jr., Stanford, Gilbertville, Pa.
D, Keeley Dowling**, Sr., Tennessee, Carmel, Ind.
D, Holly Gault, So., Kansas, Spring Hill, Kan.
D, Natalie Jacobs, Jr., Penn State, Centreville, Va.
M, Lori Chalupny*, Jr., North Carolina, St. Louis, Mo.
M, Lindsey Huie**, Jr., Portland, Laguna Woods, Calif.
M, Diana Matheson, Fr., Princeton, Oakville, Ontario
M, Leslie Osborne, Sr., Santa Clara, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
F, Esmeralda Negron*, Sr., Princeton, Harrington Park, N.J.
F, Heather O'Reilly*, So., North Carolina , East Brunswick, N.J.
F, Christine Sinclair**, Jr., Portland, Burnaby, Canada
F, Tiffany Weimer*, So., Penn State, North Haven, Conn.
Second Team
G, Meghan Miller, Sr., Kansas, Seattle, Wash.
D, Hayley Hunt, Jr., Stanford, San Marino, Calif.
D, Melissa Miller*, So., Ohio State, Cincinnati, Ohio
D, Melissa Tancredi*, Sr., Notre Dame, Ancaster, Ontario
M, Lara Dickenmann, Fr., Ohio State, Kriens, Switzerland
M, Sarah Huffman, Jr., Virginia , Flower Mound, Texas
M, Jill Oakes, Jr., UCLA, West Hills, Calif.
F, Christina Frimpong, Sr., Washington , Vancouver, Wash.
F, Tara Hurless*, Sr., Illinois, Rockford, Ill.
F, Megan Kakadelas, Sr., Santa Clara, Carlsbad, Calif.
F, Katie Thorlakson, Jr., Notre Dame, Langley, British Columbia
Third Team
G, Erin McLeod, Jr., Penn State, Calgary, Alberta
D, Liza Barber, Sr., Harvard, Des Moines, Iowa
D, Ronda Brooks, So., Auburn, Marietta, Ga.
D, Jennifer Simonetti, Sr., Dayton, Copley, Ohio
M, Jennifer Buczkowski, So., Notre Dame, Elk Grove, Ill.
M, Fran Munnelly, Jr., Colorado, Arvada, Colo.
M, Brittany Timko, So., Nebraska, Coquitlam, British Columbia
F, Kristen Graczyk*, Sr., Connecticut, Corona, Calif.
F, Laura Kane, Sr., West Virginia , Pottstown, Pa.
F, Iris Mora*, Jr., UCLA, Cancun, Mexico
F, Caroline Smith*, Jr., Kansas , Edina, Minn.