November 19, 2009

Carroll Becomes Fifth Academic All-American in Wheaton History

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College women's soccer senior Kathleen Carroll (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz Central) became just the fifth ESPN The Magazine Academic College Division All-America selection in school history, earning a spot on the second team. Carroll becomes the second player from the women's soccer program to draw an accolade, joining Erin Duffy '05. Qualifiers are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Carroll follows Duffy, Lisa Yenush '90, Dina Terceira '99 and Caitlin Grant '09 as Academic All-America selections. She was among 33 players chosen for three teams and one of 11 on the second squad. Carroll was also one of just four from a New England school and one of two hailing from a Division III institution in the region. She was the lone representative of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) schools.

In leading the Lyons to their 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, where Wheaton fell in the second round to finish with an 18-4-2 mark, Carroll appeared in 21 of the Blue and White's 24 games. While playing dual roles as a back and a forward for a team that led the NEWMAC in goals scored and allowed, she also helped the Lyons record a league-best 16 shutouts. Carroll provided one goal and two assists while drawing 13 starts. She netted the winner during a 3-0 shutout of Western New England College on September 16, just 11 days after assisting the game-winner in a 2-1 victory over then-nationally-ranked Western Connecticut State University.

During her four-year career, Carroll helped the Lyons post a 77-13-6 overall record, including 31-2-3 in NEWMAC play. Wheaton qualified for four NCAA Tournaments, earned at least a share of four regular season league crowns and won two NEWMAC Tournaments.

In addition to being selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic College Division All-District I first team, which made her eligible for the national ballot, Carroll earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors for the third straight season. A Dean's List qualifier during her career, Carroll has a 3.93 cumulative grade-point average while pursuing a degree in mathematics. Carroll, a member of Wheaton's Math Club, has also qualified for the Wheaton Presidential Award, which requires a minimum 3.75 grade-point average. Additionally, she studied last spring in New Zealand.

The College Division consists of NCAA Divisions II and III, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and two-year institutions. To be nominated for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in academic standing, possess at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and be a starter or significant reserve.