Ducks Dominate Pac-10 All-Academic Teams

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Oregon was well represented on this year’s Pac-10 Women’s Soccer All-Academic Teams, with six Ducks placed on the first and second teams and another six given honorable mention status.

Oregon’s six selections are by far the most from any university on the Pac-10 All-Academic Teams.

Arizona State and Stanford each had four players selected for second best and Arizona and Washington State both had two players chosen for the third most. Washington, Oregon State and California each had just one player selected while UCLA and USC did not have any players on the first or second team.

Nicole Dobrzynski and Allison Newton were both selected First-Team All-Pac-10. It is Dobrzynski’s third straight selection to the first-team and the senior from Danville, Calif., holds a 3.81 cumulative GPA in business administration. Newton (Eugene, Ore.) makes her first appearance on the top team after earning second-team honors as a junior last year and an honorable mention in 2006 following her sophomore campaign. She too has a 3.81 GPA but is studying history.

Named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Second-Team were seniors Darcie Gardner and Jessica Goodell, junior Dani Oster and sophomore Sara Plutko.

Gardner (Bellingham, Wash.) makes her third straight appearance on a Pac-10 All-Academic Team, after being selected to the first-team in 2006 and 2007. Gardner owns a 3.68 GPA in human physiology with a minor in psychology. This is Goodell’s first selection to the Pac-10 All-Academic Teams after transferring to the University of Oregon from Nebraska prior to the 2007 season. While with the Cornhuskers, Goodell (Durango, Colo.) was tabbed to the Big 12 All-Academic First-Team after her sophomore season. Goodell currently possesses a 3.64 GPA in marine biology.

Oster (Mill Creek, Wash.) makes her second straight appearance on the second-team after also being named to the squad after her sophomore season. She sports a 3.81 GPA in business administration. Plutko received her first selection to a Pac-10 postseason team by being placed on the second unit. She also is majoring in business administration and boasts a 3.86 GPA in the field, the highest grade point average on the women’s soccer team.

Players who received honorable mention status include sophomore Mackenzie Doty (3.03, business administration), sophomore Kirstie Kuhns (3.29, human physiology), redshirt-sophomore Rianna Mansfield (3.29, sociology), sophomore Bree Rowe (3.49, undeclared), sophomore Jen Stoltenberg (3.43, pre-business administration) and junior Danielle Sweeney (3.32, education).

To be eligible for selection to the Pac-10 academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or significant contributor.

An amazing 16 players on the Oregon women’s soccer team currently boast a 3.0 GPA or better.