Íæż½ã½ã

Íæż½ã½ã senior M.J. Eckart was named the Southland Conference Women's Soccer Student-Athlete of the Year, and the Cardinals placed four student-athletes on the conference's all-academic team that was announced Monday by the SLC office.

Eckart of Flower Mound, Texas, who has a 4.00 GPA in exercise science, is the first Cardinal in the 11-year history of the women's soccer program at Íæż½ã½ã to be named the conference's student-athlete of the year. The midfielder is one of three Cardinals to be named first-team all-academic this season, along with senior goalkeeper Lauren Lovejoy of Port Neches, and senior defender Marie Lund of Bergen, Norway). Junior midfielder Juliana Ocampo of Bogotá, Colombia, was a second-team all-academic selection.

"I'm really proud of what these players have accomplished in the classroom," Íæż½ã½ã coach Steve Holeman said. "With all the success we had on the field this year, it's great to see four players recognized for their academic efforts."

Eckart, a first-team all-conference player, had solid season on the field for the Cardinals, who went 18-4-1 overall and 10-1-0 in conference play, capturing the Southland's regular-season and tournament championships for the first time ever. Eckart tied for third on the team in scoring with 15 points on six goals and three assists. She leaves Íæż½ã½ã as the program's all-time leader in games played and games started at 78.

"For M.J. to be named first-team all-conference and then follow that up as the student-athlete of the year is truly remarkable," Holeman said.

Lovejoy set a slew of school records this season, including goals-against average (0.90), shutouts (10) and wins 18. Her 26 career wins are also an Íæż½ã½ã record. Lovejoy has a 3.25 GPA in kinesiology. Lovejoy was a second-team all-conference selection.

Lund, who has a 3.38 GPA in general business, was a first-team all-conference player this past season. The defender also contributed on offense with five goals, including three-game winning goals, and one assist for 11 points.

Ocampo has a 3.68 GPA in management. Ocampo appeared in all 23 games this season, making 22 starts. She finished the campaign with 13 points on five goals and three assists.

The three first-team selections are the most the Cardinals have had on the conference's all-academic team.