AUSTIN, Texas --- Three members of the Tusculum women's soccer team have been selected to the NCAA Division II Academic All-District 3 Women's Soccer team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Two-time Academic All-America® senior defender Carlie Thornber is joined by senior midfielder Cheyenne Upton and junior midfielder Katja Andersson on the team, which is selected from nominees representing all colleges and universities in the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and Peach Belt Conference. Thornber, Upton and Andersson will advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, with first, second and third-team honorees to be announced in December.
Thornber, a first-team Academic All-American® last season and a third-team pick in 2015, is a native of Oshawa, Ontario and has a perfect 4.00 grade-point average as a pre-medicine major. Thornber is a two-time All-SAC selection, including second-team honors this season after starting all 18 matches and registering one goal and two assists for four points. A four-year starter for the Pioneers, Thornber finished her career with nine goals and two assists for 20 points in 71 career matches (all starts).
Upton, a native of Greeneville, Tennessee, carries a 3.89 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in biology. She started all 18 matches for the Pioneers and finished with three goals and an assist for seven points, tying for third on the team in goals. All three of Upton's goals came in Tusculum wins, including 2-1 conference road wins at Newberry and Catawba. She finished her career with four goals and four assists for 12 points in 56 career matches (41 starts).
Andersson, a native of Enstaberga, Sweden, has a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average with a major in business administration. Andersson appeared in all 18 matches for the Pioneers, making one start, and had two assists. A two-time All-SAC selection and a third-team All-Region performer as a freshman, Andersson has played in 55 career matches for the Pioneers and has recorded eight goals and six assists for 22 points.
The Pioneers finished with a 10-7-1 overall record and took fourth place in the South Atlantic Conference with a 7-3 league record. Tusculum advanced past Lenoir-Rhyne on penalty kicks in the SAC Championship quarterfinals before being eliminated with an overtime loss to eventual champion Carson-Newman in the semifinals. The Pioneers were ranked ninth in the Southeast Region in the final United Soccer Coaches regular-season poll.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2017-18 Academic All-America® team program.
CoSIDA NCAA II Academic All-District 3 Women's Soccer First Team
Pos Name, School
GK Gina Ryan, UNC Pembroke
D Gabby Coumes, Young Harris
D Kristin Herbert, Anderson
D Naiara Kapstein, Limestone
D Carlie Thornber, Tusculum
MF Katja Andersson, Tusculum
MF Alana Jefferson, Queens
MF Cheyenne Upton, Tusculum
MF Allie Winglosky, Limeston
F Riley Clark, Columbus State
F Holly Talbut-Smith, Carson-Newman
F Lauren Wade, Carson-Newman
