Connell Named to A-10 All-Academic Team
11/1/2018 3:51:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Gavin McFarlin - Associate SID
2018 A-10 Awards (pdf)
DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Senior Natalie Connell capped off her final season as a Wildcat by representing Davidson in earning one of 11 spots on the Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer All-Academic Team, as the conference released its annual awards Thursday for the 2018 season.
Connell becomes the second Wildcat to earn all-academic honors after Jenni Isaac was named to the team in both 2014 and 2015. The all-academic team is based on a vote of the women's soccer media relations directors at each of the 14-member institutions.
The Lancaster, Pa., native added to her career academic honors as she is a three-time A-10 All-Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree as well.
"I'm very proud of Natalie through her career at Davidson," said head coach Adam Denton. "As a captain, leader and as a person on and off the field, she demonstrates all the qualities of a student-athlete at Davidson College. This achievement is very deserving for her, and on a personal note, a great way to end her four-year career. Natalie will go on to achieve more wonderful things after Davidson and as the next chapter of her life starts."
After missing all of her junior season due to a preseason injury, Connell came back and had a career-best senior year. She scored her first collegiate goal in leading Davidson to a 3-2 win at home vs. USC Upstate and then in the next game, tallied her second career assist in a road win at Gardner-Webb to finish the season with a personal-high three points.
The midfielder started all 16 games she played this season and ended her career starting 51 of her 54 total games played.
In the classroom, Connell studies biology, and she had a summer to remember this year. She traveled to Zambia with teammate Mia Hodges to further her studies.
George Mason standout Emma van der Vorst was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, and also took home Rookie of the Year Accolades. Massachusetts' sophomore Jenny Hipp was voted the league's Midfielder of the Year, while Saint Louis junior Alli Klug was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. After completing an unbeaten conference season and earning the top seed in the championship, Billikens' coach Katie Shields earned Coach of the Year honors.
The 2018 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship continues Friday with the semifinals, held at Dayton's Baujan Field in Dayton, Ohio. Top-seeded Saint Louis takes on No. 4 George Mason at 1:00 pm, followed by No. 2 VCU and No. 3 Saint Joseph's at 3:30 pm. The winners of those contests will face off in Sunday's Championship final at Noon, with the Champion earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAAs.
DavidsonPhotos.com
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Senior Natalie Connell capped off her final season as a Wildcat by representing Davidson in earning one of 11 spots on the Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer All-Academic Team, as the conference released its annual awards Thursday for the 2018 season.
Connell becomes the second Wildcat to earn all-academic honors after Jenni Isaac was named to the team in both 2014 and 2015. The all-academic team is based on a vote of the women's soccer media relations directors at each of the 14-member institutions.
The Lancaster, Pa., native added to her career academic honors as she is a three-time A-10 All-Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree as well.
"I'm very proud of Natalie through her career at Davidson," said head coach Adam Denton. "As a captain, leader and as a person on and off the field, she demonstrates all the qualities of a student-athlete at Davidson College. This achievement is very deserving for her, and on a personal note, a great way to end her four-year career. Natalie will go on to achieve more wonderful things after Davidson and as the next chapter of her life starts."
After missing all of her junior season due to a preseason injury, Connell came back and had a career-best senior year. She scored her first collegiate goal in leading Davidson to a 3-2 win at home vs. USC Upstate and then in the next game, tallied her second career assist in a road win at Gardner-Webb to finish the season with a personal-high three points.
The midfielder started all 16 games she played this season and ended her career starting 51 of her 54 total games played.
In the classroom, Connell studies biology, and she had a summer to remember this year. She traveled to Zambia with teammate Mia Hodges to further her studies.
George Mason standout Emma van der Vorst was named the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, and also took home Rookie of the Year Accolades. Massachusetts' sophomore Jenny Hipp was voted the league's Midfielder of the Year, while Saint Louis junior Alli Klug was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. After completing an unbeaten conference season and earning the top seed in the championship, Billikens' coach Katie Shields earned Coach of the Year honors.
The 2018 Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Championship continues Friday with the semifinals, held at Dayton's Baujan Field in Dayton, Ohio. Top-seeded Saint Louis takes on No. 4 George Mason at 1:00 pm, followed by No. 2 VCU and No. 3 Saint Joseph's at 3:30 pm. The winners of those contests will face off in Sunday's Championship final at Noon, with the Champion earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAAs.
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