Rice Owls midfielder Sarah Yoder was named Freshman of the Year when Soccer Buzz announced its Division I first-year program honors on Friday. Defenders Caitlin Currie and Betsy Huete joined Yoder on the publication's All-National Team, composed of the best players from the seven first-year schools.
Yoder led the Western Athletic Conference with eight assists and had 12 points on the season; she and Currie were on the All-WAC Second Team, joining fellow freshman goalkeeper Amanda Garrison. Rice (7-8, 5-3 WAC) won four of its final five games to finish second in the conference and garnered a No. 2 ranking in Soccer Buzz's first-year programs poll in November.
Binghamton sophomore Tracy Kasmarcik was named National Player of the Year for First Year Programs, and Western Kentucky's Jason Neidell nabbed Coach of the Year honors.
Since 1996, Soccer Buzz has honored the best programs, players and coaches for schools that sponsor Division I soccer for the first time. The selections are based on voting from all Division I head coaches and Soccer Buzz staff.