For the Concordia women's soccer, today's announcement that four members of the team were named to the NAIA Academic All-American team showed that the squad is an excellent representation of student-athletes both on and off the field. After a two-year run which has produced more victories than ever seen before, it is the excellent work in the classroom that can also be hailed as Heather Schneider (a two-time recipient), Emily Gau, Leah Eicher and Jenny Schmidt all made the elite group.

 

(Dec. 4, 2006 - Ann Arbor, Mich.) -- For Heather Schneider it had become common for her to receive accolades at the conclusion of the women's soccer season. While others can point to the athletic accomplishments, Schneider has consistently been honored for her character and her academic achievements. Last season's team Champion of Character, Schneider has been named a member of the NAIA Academic All-American for the second time in her career. Joining Schneider are first-time winners in juniors Leah Eicher, Emily Gau and Jenny Schmidt.

 

Schneider (Sr. - Seymour, Ind.) will receive her Lutheran Teaching Diploma in the Elementary Education program with a major in Language Arts. Schneider curently has a 3.85 grade point average.

 

Schmidt (Jr. - Holt, Mich.) was named this season's Champion of Character and has been nearly perfect in her studies in the Family Life Program. Schmidt, whose older brother also played soccer at Concordia, currently has a 3.995 GPA.

 

Eicher (Jr. - Rochester Hills, Mich.) is also enrolled in the Family Life Program and currently has a 3.53 GPA.

 

The third junior, Gau (Jr. - Newark, Ohio), is also pursuing a degree in Family Life, with her major being Art. Gau currently has a 3.94 GPA.

 

This is the second season in a row that the Concordia women's soccer program has produced multiple Academic All-Americans. Last season the women had three recipients with this year's group being the largest ever in the women's soccer program.