Welch Named to Preseason All-Big 12 Team

2016 Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team
Pos.	Name	School	Year
GK	Rylee Foster	West Virginia	So
D	Paige Welch	Oklahoma	Jr.
D	Amandine Pierre-Louis	West Virginia	Sr.
D	Bianca St. Georges	West Virginia	Jr.
MF	Julie James	Baylor	Jr.
MF	Jordie Harr	Texas Tech	So.
MF	Carla Portillo	West Virginia	Sr.
F	Emma Heckendorn	TCU	Sr.
F	Cyera Hintzen	Texas	So.
F	Michaela Abam	West Virginia	Sr.
F	Sh'Nia Gordon	West Virginia	Jr.

NORMAN – Oklahoma junior Paige Welch has been named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Soccer Team, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Six of the conference's 10 programs are represented in the preseason team. OU joins Baylor, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech with one selection while West Virginia holds the remaining six spots.

A defender hailing from Austin, Texas, Welch has started all 41 games she has appeared in as a Sooner and has missed just two matches in her career. A key member of OU's backline, Welch has helped the Sooners to 17 total shutouts in her two seasons.

Welch also owns three career goals, all game winners, including a 12th-minute goal over SMU in the 2016 NCAA First Round to give OU its first NCAA Tournament victory.

The Sooners are set to begin their 2017 slate with an exhibition match against BYU, a rematch of the 2016 NCAA second round, on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. CT at John Crain Field. Admission to the exhibition match is free.

OU opens the regular season at home on Aug. 18 against Arizona at 7 p.m. CT. Fans can still purchase single-game, mini-plans and season tickets at SoonerSports.com/tickets.