CoSIDA Press Release
GREENWOOD, Ind. - The 2018 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), were released on Thursday afternoon. Among the honorees were four Messiah student-athletes with
DJ Cole and
Brooke Firestone selected on the women's side and
Nick West and
Cooper Robbins picked to the men's team.
Both the Messiah men's and women's soccer teams begin play in the NCAA Tournament this weekend with the men hosting the opening weekend on Shoemaker Field and the women traveling to RIT for the first two rounds.
The honor is the first for all four of the Falcons selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team.
Brooke Firestone earned her first Academic All-District honor thanks to a strong junior campaign in the classroom and on the field. As a Math major with Teaching Certificate, Firestone carries a 3.81 overall GPA and currently leads the team with 18 goals while also adding seven assists for a team-high 43 points. She was recently named the MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year and dished out the assist on the Falcons' double-overtime victory against Arcadia in the MAC Commonwealth Championship.
On the defensive side of the ball,
DJ Cole anchors a Messiah defense that has allowed just three goals on the season. The Athletic Training major holds a 3.69 cumulative GPA in her senior year and has been a fixture on the Messiah defensive line throughout her career. This season, Cole earned her third-straight MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year award.
The men's team also picked up a pair of honors with offensive juggernaut
Nick West and defensive stalwart
Cooper Robbins each earning the first accolades of their careers. West has been a force to be reckoned with this season with 24 goals in 19 matches for the Falcons. The senior scored in 15-straight matches from Sept. 1 to Oct. 20, tying the Division III record for most consecutive games with at least one goal. In the classroom, the Business Administration major holds a 3.46 cumulative GPA.
Despite battling injuries in the beginning of the season,
Cooper Robbins was named Academic All-District thanks to a strong 3.84 cumulative GPA as a Biology major and his strong play on Messiah's defensive line. Messiah has allowed just six goals sine Robbins returned to the field on Sept. 20 against York and the squad is currently riding a 573-minute shutout streak, dating back to Oct. 9 at Lebanon Valley. The 2017 Elite 90 winer, Robbins has been right in the middle of that scoreless streak, commanding the backline with a calm confidence.
About the CoSIDA Academic Honor
Each year, CoSIDA elects Academic All-District members across NCAA Division I, II, III, and "College Division." The College Division is comprised of NAIA, two-year, and Canadian student-athletes. Student-athletes are nominated by current CoSIDA members—usually an institution's Sports Information Director— and must carry at least 3.30 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Nominated student-athletes must also be of sophomore athletic eligibility and be significant contributors to the success of their team.
Those selected as First Team Academic All-District will be eligible for the All-American team to be selected later in the season.
A complete list of the Messiah's all-time All-District and All-American honorees can be
seen here.
