AUSTIN, Texas --- Tusculum College senior defender Kelli McCalla and junior defender Carlie Thornber have been selected to the 2016 NCAA Division II Academic All-District 3 Women's Soccer team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Thornber, a third-team Academic All-American last season, is a native of Oshawa, Ontario and has a perfect 4.00 grade-point average as a pre-medicine major. She has made 14 starts this season for the Pioneers and has three goals, each of which have been game-winners. She scored with 3.9 seconds left in a 2-1 win over King on Sept. 7, and added goals in a 2-0 win over Lincoln Memorial on Sept. 21 and a 2-0 win over Catawba on Oct. 23 that clinched the program's first South Atlantic Conference championship since 2004. Thornber is a three-year starter for the Pioneers who has eight goals in 52 career matches, including three game-winners.
McCalla, a native of Austin, Texas, has a 3.88 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in pre-physical therapy/athletic training. She has been an integral part of a Pioneer defense that has recorded eight shutouts in 16 matches this season while allowing just five shots on goal per contest. McCalla is a four-year starter for the Pioneers and has three goals and two assists for eight points in 72 career matches (64 starts).
Members of the CoSIDA NCAA II Academic All-District 3 Team are selected from nominees representing all colleges and universities in the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and Peach Belt Conference.
The Pioneers (10-4-2, 8-1-1 South Atlantic Conference) finish their regular season on Saturday at Wingate. A win or draw would give the Pioneers the outright SAC championship and the top seed in next week's conference tournament. Regardless of the result, Tusculum will host a SAC Tournament quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov. 1 against an opponent to be determined.
CoSIDA NCAA II Academic All-District 3 Women's Soccer First Team
Pos Name, School
GK Maylyn Parsons, Columbus State
D Olivia DeJong, Armstrong State
D Macy Franklin, Wingate
D Kelli McCalla, Tusculum
D Carlie Thornber, Tusculum
MF Maria Marti Bartis, Clayton State
MF Kaitlyn Brunworth, Wingate
MF Amber Matthews, Young Harris
F Nicole Corcione, Columbus State
F Jules Herrity, Carson-Newman
F Holly Talbut-Smith, Carson-Newman
