Kakadelas Repeats Academic Honors

Nov. 4, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO - Santa Clara University women's soccer team member Megan Kakadelas has been named to the CoSIDA District VIII All-Academic First Team for a second consecutive year. The senior forward from Carlsbad has a 3.806 grade-point average while working toward a degree in Accounting. She has started 15 contests in assisting the Broncos to their No. 4 national ranking. She has six goals and three assists for 15 points thus far this season.

Kakadelas was one of four repeat first-team members from the 2003 selection. She is joined by Portland's Lindsey Huie, Hawaii's Joelle Sugai and Oregon's Christine Mintz. The first-team members' names will now be placed on the Academic All-America ballot, with the results of those honorees to be released November 23.

"At Santa Clara University, we don't take the term `student-athlete' lightly," head coach Jerry Smith said. "We talk to the team all the time about balance and for one of our players to be recognized for her academics, while at the same time helping our team continue to be one of the top programs in the country, is a wonderful example that we hope all of our players will be striving toward."

To be eligible for consideration, student-athletes must have reached at least sophomore status, be a starter or significant reserve, and have at least a 3.20 GPA. District VIII is composed of Division I schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Santa Clara (13-4-2, 5-1-0) will honor its six seniors in the team's last home match of the regular season, scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. Pepperdine. A pre-match ceremony will take place on the field to recognize Lana Bowen, Bree Horvath, Kakadelas, Leslie Osborne, Alyssa Sobolik and Monika Sola.

2004 Academic All-District VIII Women's Soccer First Team