Slaton Named NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Jan. 22, 2002

Santa Clara University women's soccer defender Danielle Slaton was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of American Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, leading three Broncos that earned recognition on the 2001 NSCAA/adidas Women's Scholar All-America Team. Joining Slaton are midfielders Kerry Cathcart and Aly Wagner.

Slaton is currently carrying a 3.71 GPA in biology While Cathcart is on pace to graduate this spring with a degree in communications, and a 3.43 GPA. Wagner, a junior, carries a 3.60 GPA in combined sciences.

The athletes were honored at the All-America Luncheon to be held at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel on Jan. 19, 2002, as part of the 2002 NSCAA Convention. The first team selections comprise the pool for the selection of the NSCAA/adidas Scholar Athlete of the Year, which will be announced next week.

Slaton anchored a defensive back line that powered the Broncos to their first national title as they shut out perennial power North Carolina. A co-captain for SCU, she was a finalist for the NSCAA/adidas MAC Player of the Year award and the Hermann Trophy, scoring two goals and recording 11 assists. The San Jose, Calif., native was a member of the silver medal Olympic Team in 2000. A three-time NSCAA/adidas All-American, she makes her first appearance on the Scholar All-America team.

Wagner was named the College Cup Offensive MVP after scoring the lone goal of the NCAA Championship game while Cathcart started every contest this season and finished with three goals and four assists.

Carolyn Schifftner of Cal Poly posted a 3.86 GPA to claim membership on the Scholar All-America Team for a third time. A biological sciences major, she was a mainstay for the Cal Poly defense and earned honorable mention All-Big West Conference honors.

Emory University drew two spots among the three teams named, including the highest GPA among all honorees. That distinction went to Andrea Pawliczek, a senior goalkeeper who recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA to earn her second Scholar All-America award, this year on the second team. She is joined by teammate Annie Schenck, a junior majoring in psychology who held a 3.87 GPA. Furman University placed three on the team.

- www.SantaClaraBroncos.com -

NSCAA/adidas Women's Scholar All-America First Team

Pos. Name Class School Hometown GPA Major
G Emily Oleksiuk Sr. Penn State Willow Grove, Pa. 3.83 Geography
D Leigh Clark Sr. Clemson Clemson, S.C. 3.3 Language/Int'l. Studies
D Carolyn Schifftner** Sr. Cal Poly Encinitas, Calif. 3.86 Biological Sciences
D Danielle Slaton Sr. Santa Clara San Jose, Calif. 3.71 Psycho Biology
D Tracy Stalker Sr. Syracuse Marcellus, N.Y. 3.94Nutrition
M Erin Blaedow Sr. Wis.-Milwaukee West Allis, Wis. 3.8 Elementary Education
M Kerry Cathcart Sr. Santa Clara University Place, Wash. 3.43 Communication
M Catherine Poor Sr. Amherst Coll. Harwichport, Mass. 3.8 Chemistry/Biology
M Aly Wagner Jr. Santa Clara San Jose, Calif. 3.6 Combined Sciences
F Mandy Nilsen Sr. Northern Colo. Palisade, Colo. 3.37 Mathematics
F Annie Schenck Jr. Emory Cincinnati, Ohio 3.87 Psychology

Second Team

Pos. Name Class School Hometown GPA Major
G Andrea Pawliczek* Sr. Emory Lexington, Mass. 4 Biology/Economics
D Kaye Brownlee* Sr. Furman Kennesaw, Ga. 3.65 Health/Exercise Science
D Diana Detrie Sr. Marquette Green Bay, Wis. 3.74 Accounting
D Vanessa Pierce Jr. Washington Redmond, Wash. 3.44 Communication/Political Science
D Meredith Rider Sr. Denison Columbus, Ohio 3.61 French/Communication
M Patty Cronin Jr. Merrimack Coll. Norfolk, Mass. 3.45 Mathematics
M Sarah Higham-Yee Sr. BYU Mission Viejo, Calif. 3.58Health Education
M Nicole Luse Sr. Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 3.43 Nursing
M Julie Ruma Sr. Wis.-Milwaukee Omaha, Neb. 3.9 Psychology/Pre-Medicine
F Janet Sury Sr. William & Mary Oakville, Ont, Canada 3.57 Kinesiology
F Melissa Turner* Sr. Furman Marietta, Ga. 3.45 Computer Science

Third Team

Pos. Name Class School Hometown GPA Major
G Katie Carson Sr. Clemson Clemson, S.C. 3.88 Special Education
G Meagan Thunell* Sr. Weber State Logan, Utah 3.91 English/Spanish Teach
D Lauren Bendahan Jr. North Carolina St. Springfield, Va. 3.62 Accounting
D Elise BerryJr. Purdue Worthington, Ohio 3.37 Psychology
D Bethany Bogart Sr. UCLA San Diego, Calif. 3.39Communication Studies
D Carolyn Poynor Sr. Hardin-Simmons Abilene, Texas 3.83 Biology
M Katie Carson Jr. Furman Greensboro, N.C. 3.38 History
M Jessica Catekista Sr. Regis Univ. Wahiawa, Hawaii 3.45 Accounting/Business
M Erin Maysent Jr. Marquette Ames, Iowa 3.9 English/Economics
M Denise Peters Sr. UABBirmingham, Ala. 3.85 Psychology
F Shaedyn Cousino Jr. Miami of Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio 3.3 Marketing
F Jen Warrick* Sr. Minn.-Duluth Lino Lakes, Minn. 3.92 Communication