Nov. 1, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s soccer junior midfielder/tri-captain Elizabeth Tucker (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District V First Team, it was announced Thursday afternoon by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
This marks the second consecutive year Tucker has been chosen as a first-team academic all-district honoree, and once again, she will advance to the national ballot for Capital One Academic All-America® consideration.
Tucker was selected for Capital One Academic All-District honors through voting by CoSIDA members in District V, which encompasses Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution. In addition, nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s matches at their respective positions.
Tucker has been a leader for a Fighting Irish women’s soccer team that is one of the youngest in the nation, with 75 percent of its 24-player roster consisting of underclassmen, including 12 freshmen. As one of three team captains this year, Tucker has helped Notre Dame to a 13-4-2 record (8-1-1 in the BIG EAST Conference) and a share of the BIG EAST National Division title, as well as a berth in the conference tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon. What’s more, the Fighting Irish are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 matches, steadying the ship after a rough opening month that saw Notre Dame post a 3-3-1 record.
Individually, Tucker has appeared in all 19 matches for the Fighting Irish this season, starting 17 times. She ranks second on the team in goals (tied-5) and match-winning goals (2), and is third in assists (tied-3), points (13) and shots on goal (18). Tucker also has a pair of two-goal matches to her credit this year, scoring twice in wins at Tulsa (Aug. 24) and at home against Seton Hall (Oct. 5).
A third-team all-conference and BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection in 2010, Tucker presently is enrolled in Notre Dame’s top-ranked Mendoza College of Business, where she is an accounting major and has a perfect 4.000 cumulative GPA, having earned dean’s list honors each semester she has attended the University. She also made the BIG EAST All-Academic Team in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Notre Dame ranks second all-time with 223 Academic All-Americans® since the program’s inception in 1952. What’s more, 97 Fighting Irish student-athletes have earned the Academic All-America® distinction during the past 13 years, second-most from any school in the country. The Notre Dame women’s soccer program has produced 24 Academic All-Americans® in its history (a national-best 16 since women’s soccer was separated from the at-large Academic All-America® program in 2002), including Lauren Fowlkes’ first-team accolades in 2010.
A full rundown on the history of Notre Dame’s Academic All-America® success can be found in the Academic All-America® almanac under the “About ND Athletics” pulldown menu on the main page of the official Notre Dame athletics web site (UND.com).
No. 25/20 Notre Dame will play No. 15/10 Marquette in the semifinals of the 2012 BIG EAST Championship at noon (ET) Friday at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., with the match televised live to a national cable audience by CBS Sports Network. With a win, the Fighting Irish would advance to the conference title match at noon (ET) Sunday, also at Rentschler Field and also on CBS Sports Network (as well as the BIG EAST syndicated regional television package and on-line for free at bigeast.tv).
For more information on the Notre Dame women’s soccer program, follow the Fighting Irish on Twitter (@NDSoccer and @NDsoccernews), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/NDWomenSoccer) or sign up for the Irish ALERT text-messaging system through the “Fan Center” pulldown menu on the main page at UND.com.
— ND —