Seattle U was the only school this year to have three student-athletes named to the teams. The women’s soccer program now has seven all-time Academic All-Americans, the most of any program at Seattle U. This is also the first time in school history that three student-athletes from the same team have been voted to the Academic All-America Teams.
“I am very proud and so impressed with Julia, Steph, and Jacqui’s academic achievements,” said WAC Coach of the Year Julie Woodward. “They work so hard and are so disciplined and committed in all areas of their lives that this comes as no surprise. They are a great representation of our program and set the standards and expectations very high for others to follow. I am extremely grateful for their contributions to our team both on the field and in the classroom.”
Verdoia was one of just 10 Division I women’s soccer players to record double digits in both goals and assists through regular season play in 2013. She was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, also named to the WAC Tournament Team as well as First Team All-Conference. At the end of the Redhawks’ season, Verdoia tied for ninth in the country in total assists and tied for 11th in NCAA DI total points. Off the field, Verdoia has earned a 3.9 cumulative GPA as a political science major.
Besagno was named First Team All-Conference, also named to the WAC Tournament Team in 2013. A team co-captain with Verdoia, Besagno received her first career WAC Offensive Player of the Week award for the week of Oct. 21-27 after scoring three goals in a pair of wins at New Mexico State and Kansas City. This season in the WAC, she ranked fourth in goals and goals per game, tied for sixth in points, and ranked seventh in points per game. Besagno currently has a 3.8 cumulative GPA as a nursing major.
Wallis was named GoSeattleU.com Featured Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 10 after tying the match at Purdue with a goal in the 40th minute in the team’s 2-2 draw on Sept. 8. Wallis also tied for ninth in the WAC in total goals with five in 2013. Off the field, she participates in many areas on campus, including the Sullivan Leadership Program, which is committed to promoting personal and professional growth in alignment with the Seattle University mission. In the classroom, Wallis excels with a 4.0 cumulative GPA as a double major in philosophy and cell and molecular biology.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 18,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.