MU’s Bryan Blitz chosen as SEC women’s soccer coach of the year

Missouri women’s soccer coach Bryan Blitz was chosen Sunday as the SEC coach of the year by his peers after the Tigers’ runner-up finish during the regular season.

MU, which went 7-2-2 in conference and are 9-4-5 overall entering next week’s SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala., also had one first-team and two second-team All-SEC selections.

Blitz, now in his 20th season at Missouri, won top coaching in the SEC for the first time after being selected as the Big 12 coach of the year in 2007 and 2009 and earning Midwest Collegiate Conference coach of the year in 1995 at Butler.

Senior defender Candace Johnson, an all-freshman pick in 2012 and second-team performer last season, was chosen to the All-SEC first team.

Johnson anchored a defense that led the conference with a 0.78 goals-against average, including a 0.91 average in conference play. She also had two goals and two assists this season.

Midfielders Reagan Russell and Melanie Donaldson were picked for the All-SEC second team.

Russell, a senior, is tied for the team lead with four goals and also added two assists.

Donaldson, a junior, was a standout at defensive midfielder and also had a goal and two assists.

Missouri next plays at noon Wednesday against the winner between No. 7 seed LSU and No. 10 Kentucky in the SEC tourney.

This story was originally published November 1, 2015 at 9:31 PM with the headline "MU’s Bryan Blitz chosen as SEC women’s soccer coach of the year."