The Kalamazoo College women's soccer team had six players selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, as announced on Tuesday (Nov. 21). The student-athletes selected were Elle Bernas, Holly Bowling, Maddie Coffman, Olivia DePauli, Anna Murphy, and Savera Rajendra-Nicolucci.
To be selected for the award, the student-athlete must be a starter or an important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA, have played at least 90% or start in 66% of their team's competitions, and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.
The leading scorer for the Hornets was Bernas, who just completed her sophomore season. Primarily coming off the bench, Bernas played in all 17 games with eight starts and led the team with seven goals, 14 points, 31 shots, and 21 shots on goal. She currently has a 3.86 cumulative GPA and is double majoring in philosophy and political science.
Bowling started in all 17 games for Kalamazoo in her senior season. She had three assists, which was tied for the team lead, while also scoring two goals, finishing with seven points, and taking 15 shots, with nine being on goal. She is double majoring in biochemistry and business, holds a cumulative GPA of 3.93, and was selected to the all-district team for the second time.
After transitioning from a defender to the midfield, Coffman also started all 17 games for the Hornets. The senior scored her first two career goals and added two assists for six points while taking 15 shots, five being on goal. She is a biochemistry major, holds a 3.80 cumulative GPA, and was selected to the all-district team for the second time.
DePauli returned from studying abroad last season to start 16 of Kalamazoo's 17 games in the back line. She was crucial in corner kick set pieces, scoring her first four career goals for eight points as a senior while helping limit opponents to 1.35 goals per game. The All-MIAA Second Team selection currently has a 3.72 cumulative GPA while majoring in Spanish.
The senior started all 17 games in the midfield, and Murphy was a vital part of the ball moving from the defensive to the offensive end. She scored three goals, all on penalty kicks, for the Hornets and added two assists for eight points. Majoring in biology, she has a team-high cumulative of 3.97 GPA and was selected to the all-district team for the second time.
Rajendra-Nicolucci started in all 17 games and played as a defensive midfielder for Kalamazoo. The senior assisted the back line in their work while adding an assist. The MIAA Senior Sportswoman of the Year is majoring in biology, holds a 3.74 cumulative GPA, and was selected to the all-district team for the second time.
Now that the six student-athletes have made the district team, they will move on to the CSC Academic All-American ballot, which will be announced in early December.