Missouri State

At Missouri State: Grace Cross[apos] versatility and leadership will be key to the Bears[apos] success in 2012.

2011: Cross was named to the All-MVC first team after a spectacular season in which her versatility proved vital as she played on the backline and at midfield while starting all 19 matches. On Oct. 18, she was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week following a strong performance helping the Bears earn a draw against MVC foe Creighton. Cross led the squad in minutes played with 1,773. She scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 shutout win over Illinois State (9/30). Cross registered an assist in the Bears[apos] overtime win at SIUE (10/9). Off the field, her GPA earned her NSCAA Scholar All-Central Region second team honors.

2010: Cross scored her first career goal at a pivotal time in the season. Her goal came with six seconds left in the match in a Bears[apos] 1-0 shutout win in the conference home opener against Indiana State (10/1). She also recorded her first career assist which came on the game-winning goal in the regular season finale versus Evansville (10/28). For her stellar play during her sophomore season, Cross was named to the All-MVC second team and the MVC Scholar-Athlete honorable mention squad.

2009: Cross was a first-year letterwinner and appeared in 12 matches for the Bears. She received a starting assignment in four matches. She registered two shots on goal and five shots total on the season.

Background: Cross joined older sister Christine on the MSU roster in 2009 after enjoying a stellar four-year career at Lee[apos]s Summit North High for coach Tim Richardson. The three-time all-state, all-district and all-conference honoree missed her junior year due to injury. Cross[apos] teams won conference and district titles the three seasons she played, finishing second in state during her senior campaign and combining to go 64-9-2 overall in her three seasons. She was named second-team all-metro for her senior season.

Personal: Cross is the daughter of Forbes and Wendy Cross and was born March 3, 1991. Her sister, Christine, also played for Missouri State. She is an administrative management major at Missouri State.