Monday, November 21, 2016

AUSTIN, Texas. – The Great Northwest Athletic Conference was represented by five players on the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-American Division II soccer teams.

The senior duo from Seattle Pacific of Davis Karaica and Jordan Kollars both earned second-team recognition for the second year in a row. Karaica was a key part of the Falcons’ defense in the 2016 season, leading the team in minutes played. He missed just 50 minutes of play all year. Karaica studies exercise science and has a grade point average of 3.74. Kollars started all 14 matches he played for the Falcons and tallied eight points with six assists this year. As an engineering major, Kollars posted a 3.88 GPA.

Simon Fraser’s Brandon Watson earned third-team honors after helping Simon Fraser get back to the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West Region. Watson registered nine shutouts and finished his career with a GNAC record 31 career clean sheets. As a kinesiology major, Watson earned a 3.86 GPA for his first Academic All-American honor.

Saint Martin’s defender Taylor Gersch was named to the women’s soccer academic all-American third team. Gersch played all but six minutes this year on the Saints’ defensive line. The senior defender also pushed forward to take three shots for SMU. She earned a perfect 4.00 GPA as a business administration major. She is one of 11 women’s soccer athletes with a 4.00 GPA among the players that were honored.

Elise Aylward represented Division II’s No. 1 team, Western Washington, on the academic all-American third team. Aylward was the team’s regular-season leader in goals scored and now has eight with five assists. Four of her goals this season have resulted in game-winners and she has scored on 21.6 percent of the shots she has taken. Aylward is studying French and recorded a 3.98 GPA.

Nominated by and voted upon by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the Academic All-America program recognizes student-athletes of sophomore standing or better who are starters or significant reserves for their team with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or better. Academic All-American selections are selected chosen from honorees on the Academic All-District teams.