Abilene Christian’s senior midfielder Anastasia Nelson was named Lone Star Conference Academic Player of the Year as conference officials announced the women’s soccer academic awards during the LSC Championship banquet on Wednesday.

   Nelson, a communications major, has a flawless 4.0 cumulative grade point average. After missing last season with an injury, she has returned and played every game for the Wildcats. The senior has played a big part in an ACU defense that has pitched seven shutouts and held opponents to only 15 goals on the season.

   Nelson is one of four Wildcats on the All-Academic team. She is joined on the 11-member group by players from Texas A&M-Commerce, Angelo State, Northeastern State, Midwestern State, Incarnate Word and Texas Woman’s.

   The All-Academic team is chosen by the league’s sports information directors, who select players on the basis of both athletic and academic achievement. To be eligible for LSC academic honors, student-athletes must have played in at least 50 percent of team’s contests, reached sophomore athletic and academic standing (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible), completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution, and have a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average based on the 4.0 system for his/her entire collegiate career.

   ACU had four players on the team with Julie Coppedge, Courtney Wilson and Alyse Ritche joining Nelson. MSU was represented by two players - Kelsey Hill and Alyssa Dillman.

   Also earning spots on the squad were the A&M-C’s Randi Hafele, ASU’s Lauren Carnes, NSU’s Melissa Michelsen, UIW’s Keri Dawson and TWU’s Madisen Burrows.

 

2010 LSC WOMEN’S SOCCER ALL-ACADEMIC AWARDS

Anastasia Nelson, MF      Abilene Christian               Sr.     Communications           San Diego, Calif.

Randi Hafele, GK             Texas A&M-Commerce Jr.      Animal Science              Friendswood, Texas

Julie Coppedge, F              Abilene Christian               So.    Journalism                      Amarillo, Texas

Lauren Carnes, MF           Angelo State                       So.    Nursing                            Amarillo, Texas

Melissa Michelsen, D        Northeastern State            Jr.      Psychology                     Plano, Texas

Kelsey Hill, F                      Midwestern State               Jr.      Education                       Wichita Falls, Texas

Keri Dawson, D                  Incarnate Word                 Sr.     Athletic Training            Las Cruces, N.M.

Courtney Wilson, F           Abilene Christian               Sr.     Social Work                    Odessa, Texas

Madisen Burrows, M        Texas Woman's                 Jr.      Kinesiology                     Gainesville, Texas

Alyse Ritche, D                  Abilene Christian               Jr.      Youth&Fam. Ministry Belton, Texas

Alyssa Dillman, D              Midwestern State               So.    Business                          Amarillo, Texas

Academic Player of the Year: Anastasia Nelson, Abilene Christian