CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Six America East soccer standouts from three different schools have been named to the ESPN Academic All-District Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, respectively, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced today (Nov. 3).
Boston University's Ben Havey and University of New Hampshire's Joe Corsello and Colin O'Donnell were all first-team selections on the men's side. For the women, Boston University's Lina Cords and Jessica Luscinski and University of Maine's Kelsey Wilson were second-team honorees.
Havey, one of the top midfielders in America East, led the Terriers to their second regular-season title in three years. A graduate student with a 3.67 grade-point average in administrative studies with a financial economics concentration, Havey is tied for sixth among league leaders with 15 points on five goals and five assists. He was an America East Commissioner's Honor Roll selection in 2009.
Corsello, a senior back with a 3.74 GPA in environmental engineering, is a repeat first-team CoSIDA choice. Named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll last year, Corsello anchors a back line that has allowed just nine goals all season, which is tied for eighth-best nationally. He also garnered Scholar All-Region recognition from the NSCAA last year, was an America East All-Academic choice and has twice been named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
O'Donnell, the reigning America East Goalkeeper of the Year, has a 3.37 GPA in occupational therapy. One of the top goalkeepers in the country, O'Donnell ranks fifth with a .889 save percentage and seventh with a 0.52 goals-against average. He was the America East Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete last season, was an NSCAA Scholastic All-Region selection and has twice been named to the Academic Honor Roll.
Cords, a junior back at Boston University, has a 3.54 GPA in biochemistry and molecular biology and was named to America East's First-Team All-Conference and All-Academic squads last week. A former Commissioner's Honor Roll choice, Cords anchors a defense that has recorded 12 straight shutouts, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history. Her team can capture its eighth conference crown since 2000 with a win over Maine on Saturday.
Luscinski, a junior forward for the Terriers, has a 3.53 GPA as a health sciences major. The 2010 America East Striker of the Year, Luscinski ranks second among league leaders with 10 goals and seven assists this season. She was named to the conference's Academic Honor Roll as a freshman and earned Commissioner's Honor Roll status as a sophomore.
Wilson, a senior midfielder at Maine, also has her team in the finals and carries a 3.83 GPA in biological engineering. She scored in the Black Bears' 2-1 win over Stony Brook in the conference semifinals on Sunday and ranks among league leaders with eight goals on the season. Wilson, a second-team all-conference choice, also earned All-Academic honors for the second straight year and has been a Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree.
To be nominated for the distinction, a student athlete must excel on the field as a starter or important reserve, and in the classroom by maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.30. Student Athletes who receive first team recognition will be named to the national ballot.