Spartan Women’s Soccer Student-Athletes Named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District

AURORA, Ill. November 2, 2007 - The Aurora University Spartan women’s soccer team had five players named to the ESPN the Magazine District V Academic All-District teams. To be considered for the honor, the nominated student-athletes are required to maintain a minimum 3.20 cumulative grade point average throughout their academic career at AU.

Spartans named to the 2007 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V College Division Women’s Soccer Teams are junior defender Heather Skeen (Loveland, CO/Loveland H.S.), sophomore defender Katie Lunsford (Leavenworth, KS/Leavenworth H.S.), sophomore goalkeeper Jenny Jarvis (Naperville, IL/Naperville Central H.S.), sophomore midfielder Nikki Counsell (Oconomowoc, WI/Oconomowoc H.S.) and junior forward Allison Bailey (Dixon, IL/Dixon H.S.). The team is selected by the district’s Sports Information Directors.

Skeen, a First-Team selection, is a psychology and English major. She was a 2006 Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete and is a key piece of the AU defense that has allowed 14 goals in 21 games (0.67 goals per game) and has 12 shutouts. Skeen moves on to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America ballot and will be among 97 College Division women’s soccer players across the country eligible for the All-America Teams.

Lunsford, a Second-Team selection, is a psychology major. She was a 2006 Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete and partners with Skeen as a key piece to the AU defensive efforts that have allowed 14 goals in 21 games (0.67 goals per game) and has 12 shutouts.

Third-Team selections include Allison Bailey, Nikki Counsell and Jenny Jarvis. Bailey is a fitness and health promotion major. She was a 2006 Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete, NAC All-Conference, a 2005 Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference All-Conference and a two-time AU offensive MVP. On the season, she has 12 goals, nine assists and four game-winning goals. Bailey is currently fifth all-time at AU with 35 career goals and fifth with 96 career points.

Counsell is an elementary education major. She was a 2006 Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete, NAC All-Conference and NAC All-Rookie. On the season she has four goals and 10 assists. Counsell is currently tied for fifth in single season assists with 10.

Jarvis is an athletic training major at. She was a 2006 Northern Athletics Conference Scholar-Athlete and NAC All-Rookie. On the season she has a 17-2-1 record with 57 saves, 11 shutouts (ties a school single season record) and a 0.70 goals against average.

The Spartans are currently on an 18-game win streak and are ranked No. 25 in the latest D3Kicks.com poll. The Spartan women (18-2-1) will host the Stars of Dominican University (13-7) in the Northern Athletics Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Championship Game on Saturday, November 3, 2007 on AU Field. Game time is set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.

The ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District teams are selected by CoSIDA member Sports Information Directors within the district based on the student-athletes’ academic prowess while being a steady influence on their respective athletic field.

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