INDIANAPOLIS -- Nine Horizon League soccer student-athletes were voted to their respective Academic All-District Teams, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced on Tuesday. Kelsey Kempton, Natalie Daniels, Marley Greiner and Keara Thompson earned honors on the women's side, while Jeff Baker, Connor Burt, Will Martin, Ben Sippola and Ryan Schwarz picked up men's accolades.
Kempton, a junior defender at Youngstown State, is just the second Penguin to earn all-district honors and the first to be named First Team All-District 4. An exercise science major, Kempton carries a 4.0 grade point average and finished the 2010 season with 5 points.
Daniels earned First Team All-Horizon League accolades after a record-setting season at Cleveland State, wrapping up the 2010 campaign with 9 goals and 5 assists, setting the Vikings' single-season record for goals and points (23). Off the pitch, the finance major has accumulated a 3.75 GPA through her first two years, earned Second Team All-District recognition.
Her teammate Greiner appeared in 13 matches for Cleveland State, recording an assist. The Burnaby, British Columbia-native has built a 3.93 GPA while majoring in chemistry, picking up Third Team All-District honors.
Thompson joins Daniels as First Team All-Horizon and All-District honorees. Through 18 matches, Thompson has accumulated 16 points on the strength of six goals and four assists. In the classroom, Thompson has excelled, majoring in biological sciences, where the junior has earned a 3.94 GPA.
Baker has keyed Cleveland State's defense, starting all 17 matches for the 8-9-0 Vikings. The senior psychology, criminology and sociology major has built a 3.79 GPA in three years.
Burt, a senior economics major at Butler, earned First Team All-District honors for the second consecutive season. The defender has 4 points this year, while off the pitch has built a 3.96 GPA in his collegiate tenure.
Martin joins Burt as repeat District 5 First Team honorees, leading Loyola's defense in 2010. Starting all 15 matches for the Ramblers, Martin has chipped in a goal and two assists on the year. In the classroom, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-native has earned a 3.97 GPA while majoring in biology.
Sippola joins his Butler teammate Burt on the District 5 First Team. An English literature major, Sippola holds a 3.72 GPA; on the field, Sippola has keyed Butler's midfield throughout their 15-0-1 season. The Northfield, Minn.-native leads the Bulldogs with 23 points behind 7 goals and 9 assists.
Schwarz rounds out the Horizon League honorees, joining Burt and Martin on the District 5 First Team for the second straight season. The two-time Horizon League goalkeeper of the Year, the senior finance major holds a 3.72 GPA.
The Horizon League led the District 5 men's soccer team with four honorees.
All student-athletes earning First Team All-District honorees are placed on the Academic All-America ballot.
To be eligible for the all-district teams, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
The national Academic All-America teams will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 17 (men) and Thursday, Nov. 18 (women).
Tags: Butler - Men's Soccer · Cleveland State - Men's Soccer · Cleveland State - Women's Soccer · Loyola - Men's Soccer · Milwaukee - Women's Soccer · Valparaiso - Men's Soccer · Youngstown State - Women's Soccer
