Lee’s Summit North High School graduate Morgan Marlborough made a big splash in her freshman season at the University of Nebraska.
The former Bronco was named to the first team of the All-Big 12 Women’s Soccer squad and was chosen as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.
Marlborough is just the third freshman in league history to earn the Offensive Player of the Year honor. She also was named Big 12 Rookie of the Year and was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team.
Marlborough led the Big 12 with 21 goals and also was tied for fifth best in assists with seven. Her 21 goals and 49 points easily outdistanced runner-up Whitney Palmer of Oklahoma, who had 15 goals and 32 points.
Marlborough entered this week tied for the NCAA goal lead with Portland’s Danielle Foxhaven. The freshman had two hat tricks, including a school-record four goals in a win over Akron. She broke the Nebraska freshman goal record just 14 games into the season and is currently has the fourth-best single-season goal and the fifth-best single-season point total in school history.
Regular-season conference champion Missouri (12-5-3, 7-1-2 Big 12) had the Defensive Player of the Year in senior Crystal Wagner and the Coach of the Year in Bryan Blitz. Wagner and senior forward Kristin Andrighetto were also named to the All-Big 12 first team for the Tigers, who also feature Blue Springs South graduate Kelsey Stokes.
