Lincoln – Nebraska senior defender Ari Romero captured Second-Team National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer All-America honors announced on Friday. Romero is the 12th Husker All-American and claimed Nebraska’s 18th NSCAA All-America award in school history.

“Ari is very deserving of being named an All-American.  Her performances in both practices and games were outstanding and her leadership qualities had a tremendous effect on her teammates throughout the season,” noted Nebraska Head Coach John Walker.

The Surprise, Ariz. native became a stalwart at center back for the Huskers throughout her career and flourished in her final season with the Scarlet and Cream. The NSCAA All-Region First Team honoree and Big Ten Defender of the Year displayed a tireless work ethic as she worked every second of the final 15 matches on her way to averaging more than 91 minutes per match in 2013.

“She trained and played with such passion that set a standard for her teammates to try and match,” said Walker. “This is the culmination of a great college career for Ari and we look forward to watching her career continue at the professional level and with her national team”.

Taking into account her time away from NU to participate with the Mexican National Teams each of the past two years, Romero started all 77 career matches as a Husker accumulating more than 89 minutes per contest throughout her career.

The two-time all-league performer helped guide the Husker defense to eight shutouts as Nebraska claimed both the Big Ten regular-season and Tournament Championships during her 19-4-1 senior season. Romero was one of four student-athletes from the Big Ten Conference to receive the prestigious honor.

Romero became the first NU All-American since 2010 when Morgan Marlborough took home Second-Team All-America accolades and just the second player in the last decade to be recognized.