« Women’s Soccer 2016

Kadeisha Buchanan

School
West Virginia University
Position
Defender
Major
Multidisciplinary Studies

Classroom

Kadeisha Buchanan does an excellent job balancing her commitments to the WVU women’s soccer team and the Canadian National Team while also still excelling in the classroom, owning a cumulative grade-point average of 3.07. She is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Newcomer Team in 2013. She also is a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, WVU’s Dean’s List and the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.

Character

A two-time team captain (as selected by teammates), Kadeisha Buchanan is the most-recognized Mountaineer, but she never turns away any fans who want a photograph or autograph, especially the youngest Mountaineer fans. The most-requested Mountaineer by media, she always fulfills every request. Though a fierce competitor on the field, she always has a smile on her face off the field. She very much enjoys representing West Virginia University, so much so that she is sporting Gold and Blue hair her senior year. Buchanan understands that with early career success comes more responsibility, and she works hard to carry herself well off the field and to represent WVU to the best of her abilities.

Community

Though her hours are stretched thin with commitments to WVU women’s soccer, the Canadian National Team and school work, Buchanan still finds time to volunteer in the Morgantown and her hometown communities. At WVU, she helps raise funds with her teammates for breast cancer research through the program’s annual 4v4 Tournament and individual fund raising. She also has participated in activities with Stepping Stones, a local organization which fosters recreation for people with disabilities. Additionally, she volunteers at all WVU women’s soccer camps and youth clinics. When she is at home in Toronto, or training with the national team in all parts of Canada, Buchanan volunteers with local soccer clubs, speaking and coaching to youth soccer players.

Competition

Buchanan is arguably the best center back in collegiate soccer. A two-time MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and 2015 finalist—the first in WVU women’s soccer history—she was named to the 2016 watch list. A three-time NSCAA All-American and two-time first-team honoree, Buchanan is the three-time reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2015 Soccer News Net Women’s College Boot Winner. She is the three-time reigning Team Defensive MVP and a three-time Big 12 All-Tournament Team honoree. So far, she has started 70 of 71 career games and as of 9/13/16, shows 18 career points (6 G, 6 A) and has scored two career game-winning goals. She has anchored a back line that has allowed just 54 opponent goals since 2013, including a program-low 11 in 2015, the same season the unit posted a school-record 15 shutouts. As of 9/13/16, WVU shows 40 shutouts since 2013. She has helped WVU win three straight Big 12 Conference regular-season titles, two Big 12 tournament titles and make three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight trip in 2015. A four-year starter for the Canadian Women’s National Team, Buchanan won bronze with the team at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. One of 10 finalists for the 2015 Ballon d’Or Award as the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, she was named the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Best Young Player and to the 2015 FIFPro Women’s World XI Team. She also was the 2015 BMO Canadian Player of the Year.