2017 Academic All-America® College Division Women's Soccer Team Announced

2017 Academic All-America® College Division Women's Soccer Team Announced

Related
2017-18 Academic All-America® Teams and Honorees

Bethany Balcer of Spring Arbor Headlines CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division Women's Soccer Team

College Division Release: PDF  |  doc 
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Bethany Balcer

AUSTIN, Texas — Junior Bethany Balcer of Spring Arbor University headlines the 2017-18 Academic All-America® College Division women's soccer teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
 
Balcer was named the CoSIDA Academic All-America® of the Year for College Division women’s soccer.
 
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division soccer teams are comprised of student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian and two-year institutions.
 
Balcer is already one of the most decorated players in Spring Arbor and NAIA soccer history. The two-time NAIA All-America first-team selection was named the Most Valuable Player of the NAIA Women’s Soccer Tournament as she led the Cougars to their second national title in the past three seasons with a 2-0 win over Benedictine (Kan.) College in the title match. Balcer, who scored both goals for Spring Arbor in the national championship match, finished her season with 37 goals. Eleven of her goals have been game-winners and the midfielder from Hudsonville, Michigan, ranks highly in the NAIA in points (fourth with 86) and ranks 16th in assists (12). She has scored multiple goals in nine matches this season, including a season-high four against Bethel College. Balcer also became the program's all-time leading goal scorer earlier this season and through three seasons so far, Balcer has racked up 98 career goals and 37 assists. Balcer is a biology major and boasts a GPA of 3.79.
 
Other repeat selections on the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team are goalkeeper Lauren Engelkes of Taylor University, defender Kaitlen Kisiloski of Cumberland University and midfielder Rosie McShane of Benedictine. All three were named to CoSIDA Academic All-America® second team a year ago.
 
The 12 members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division women’s soccer team have an average GPA of 3.94.

2017 Academic All-America® Women's Soccer Team – College Division
 
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
GK Lauren Engelkes (2) Taylor University Jr. 4 Management & Marketing
D Kaitlen Kisiloski (2) Cumberland University Sr. 3.96 Biochemistry
D Jordan Poire Columbia (Mo.) College Gr. 4.00/4.00 Masters of Business Administration
D Regina Rudder Mount Vernon Nazarene University Sr. 4 English
D Erica Wadell Vanguard University Sr. 3.98 Communication Studies
M Bethany Balcer (1) Spring Arbor University Jr. 3.79 Biology
M Elyssa Cappaert William Woods University Sr. 4 Biology 
M Emily Lieuwen University of Victoria Sr. 4 Science
M Rosie McShane (2) Benedictine College Sr. 3.84 Marketing
F Merle Bublitz Morningside College Jr. 4 Biology / Mathematics
F Laurie Frew Columbia (Mo.) College Sr. 3.77 Elementary Education
F Kelsey Mirts Columbia (Mo.) College So. 4 General Studies

SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Yr. GPA Major
GK Sophie Hoare Georgia Gwinnett College So. 4 Applied mathematics
D Ellinor Bertilsson Georgia Gwinnett College Jr. 4 Business
D Emma Gustafsson Lindsey Wilson College So. 4 Mathematics
D Sarah Klunder Spring Arbor University Sr. 3.7 English Education
D Caitlyn Lefebvre Madonna University Sr. 3.94 Mathematics
M Jodi DeJohn Georgetown College Sr. 3.98 Biology / Spanish
M Yasmin Mookerdum Eastern Oregon University Sr. 3.99 Communication Studies
F Amanda Blixt Keiser University Jr. 3.8 International Business
F Holly Martinez Moorman Corban University Sr. 3.95 Exercise Science
F Sam Silva Middle Georgia State University Sr. 3.88 Psychology

CoSIDA Academic All-America® of the Year: Bethany Balcer, Spring Arbor University

(1) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team selection in 2016
(2) – CoSIDA Academic All-America® second team selection in 2016

  
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael MacEachern, Young Harris College | Academic All-America® Co-Director for Publicity
mfmaceachern@yhc.edu | (706) 379-5106

Aaron Sagraves, Cornerstone University | Academic All-America® Coordinator of Publicity
aaron.sagraves@cornerstone.edu | (616) 977-5415