AUSTIN, Texas --- Shenandoah University midfielder Danielle Burris and Lynchburg College defender Natalie Deacon added to their stock of postseason awards, earning First Team Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Both were also tabbed Academic All-Americans in 2014.
To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, student-athletes must have at least a 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale and be a starter or important reserve on their team. Nominees are voted on in one of eight national districts by CoSIDA members with first team All-District honorees moving on to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. Burris and Deacon were joined on the Academic All-District V Team by Bridgewater College forwards Julia Baca and Keri Rager, Lynchburg defender Emily Maxwell, and Virginia Wesleyan College forward Brittany Wentzel.
Academic All-America release
Academic All-District release
Burris, a senior from Cooksville, Md., was a Third Team Academic All-America selection in 2014. A two-time ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honoree, Burris is the 17th Academic All-American in school history and just the third, after Teddy Rogers '08 and Dr. Catherine Beuerle '09, '10 D.PT, to be selected twice. Shenandoah has now had at least one student-athlete named Academic All-America for 10 consecutive years. Burris completed her career two weeks ago with 35 goals and 18 assists for 88 points; she is third all-time at SU in points scored and fourth in goals.
A two-time co-captain, Burris was named All-ODAC three times in her career including a first team selection this season. Academically, she has a 3.99 GPA and is in her first year as a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate. Off the field, Burris is involved in Habitat for Humanity, Hungry Hearts and Salvation Army, the Alpha Chi National College and Alpha Lambda Delta Academic honor societies, the Health and Life Sciences Club and serves as a reading mentor at Quarles Elementary School.
Deacon, a junior from West Chester, Pa., adds this honor to the Second Team Academic All-America laurel she garnered last season. Deacon owns a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average as an Exercise Physiology major with minors in coaching. A perennial member of the All-ODAC Academic Team and Lynchburg Dean's List, she was named the Lynchburg 2014 Female Academic Athlete of the Year. She's a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership) and Phi Eta Sigma (academic) honor societies.
On the field, Deacon earned First Team All-ODAC honors this fall. She has started all 53 games the last two years, helping the Hornet defense allow just 14 goals over that span with a 46-3-4 record. This year's squad gave up nine goals overall, but only one came in regular season conference play. The 2014 team captured the NCAA Division III title, and both squads won the ODAC crown.
For more information on ODAC women's soccer, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter.