Seven Ohio Valley Conference soccer student-athletes were named to the ESPN Academic All-District Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Austin Peay, Morehead State and Eastern Illinois each had a pair of honorees while Jacksonville State had one player make the team.
Austin Peay senior defender Lauren Moon was named to the District IV First Team while teammate junior midfielder Samantha Northrup earned second team honors. Morehead State junior goalkeeper Lily Miesner and sophomore forward Jillian Birchmeier were selected to the third team. Jacksonville State sophomore forward Chelsea Pelletier also earned firsts team accolades while Eastern Illinois junior goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert and sophomore defender were named to the District V second team.
Moon, a native of Franklin, Tenn., holds a 4.00 grade point average (GPA) in communications. She has 11 shots, 1 goal and 1 assist on the year.
A product of Hannon, Ontario, Northup carries a 3.98 GPA in health &human performance. She currently has 22 shots with one goal this season.
Miesner, a native of Taos, N.M. has a 4.00 GPA in agricultural science-veterinary. She has recorded five shutouts this season and made 68 saves.
A native of Findlay, Ohio, Birchmeier is tied for the team lead with five goals this season. She also has one assist on the year. Birchmeier is carrying a 4.00 GPA this year.
Pelletier, a product of Forth Worth, Texas, holds a 4.00 GPA in public relations and marketing. She leads the league with five assist this year and has also scored four goals.
Lorbert hails from Wildwood, Mo., and has a 4.00 GPA in biological studies. She has allowed just nine goals in 870 minutes in net this year.
Blake, a native of Naperville, Ill., has a 4.00 in accouting. She has played 1733 minutes this season is part of a defense that has recorded six shutouts in 2009.
With their first-team selections, Moon and Pelletier will appear on the Academic All-America Ballot.
To be nominated a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her institution.