BYU soccer: Willis earns All-American honor

PROVO — BYU senior defender Andrea Willis was recognized as a Preseason All-American by Soccer America on Wednesday. Soccer America released the first and second team preseason picks for 2009 and named Willis, as a defender, to the second team.

Last year, Willis was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-West Region First Team and was also chosen for the All-Mountain West Conference Team. Willis played and started in all 32 games for the Cougars last season and will lead the defense again this year. Among the 22 other nominees for the first and second team is Brittany Taylor, a senior from Connecticut, an opponent the Cougars are scheduled to play on Saturday, Aug. 29. Willis was also recently named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List for 2009, a distinguished honor given to 45 Division I women's soccer collegiate athletes each year.