Dec. 21, 2004

MISSION, Kan. - Santa Clara University women's soccer forward Megan Kakadelas was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Carlsbad, Calif., native will be honored at the All-America Luncheon, to be held at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore Jan. 15, as part of the 2005 NSCAA Convention.

Kakadelas is currently carrying a 3.80 GPA in Accounting and has already received recognition for her work in the classroom as a West Coast Conference All-Academic recipient, a CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII First Team honoree and a first team NSCAA All-American. Kakadelas is only the second Bronco to receive this prestigious honor, joining Danielle Slaton's 2001 recognition.

"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 strive toward. We congratulate Megan; to be chosen as the one person to represent all other Academic All-Americans is the highest recognition."

Kakadelas scored seven goals and added seven assists to lead the Broncos with 21 points on the year. The first team All-WCC selection had 21 starts and shined during the postseason, assisting on both goals in the first round of the NCAA Championship against Cal, and following with an assist against Stanford in the second round. She scored the game-winning goal just 31 seconds in overtime against top-seeded North Carolina to make women's soccer history, as the Broncos stopped the Tar Heels from advancing to the College Cup for the first time in the Championship's 23-year tenure.