Dec. 9, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - Hard work in the classroom and on the playing field has paid off for Ohio senior forward Erika Schmitt as she was named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Soccer Team in a release by the league office. In addition, five other Bobcat student-athletes garnered honorable-mention recognition.

One of just 18 players listed on the team, this is the second-consecutive year Schmitt has been named to the Academic All-MAC team. She was also named to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 4 Women's Soccer Second Team last month. Academic All-MAC honors are given to student-athletes that have excelled both athletically and academically. To qualify, student-athletes must have at least a 3.20 cumulative Grade Point Average and have participated in at least 50 percent of their team's contests during the season. First-year students and transfers in their first year of residency are not eligible for the award.

A native of Wyoming, Ohio, Schmitt concluded her senior campaign with two goals and a career-high six assists, good for fifth in the conference, all while drawing significant attention from opposing defenses. For her career, she tallied 10 goals and 10 assists for a total of 30 points. Schmitt, who was also named academic all-MAC a year ago, is on the Dean's List academically and carries a 3.91 GPA in Journalism and Political Science with plans for law school. She will graduate this year.

Bobcat student-athletes receiving honorable-mention recognition included Erika Dietz, Jackie Hanson, Jess MacLean, Courtney Mink and Halle Plagens. Dietz, a senior midfielder from Yorktown, Va., is on the Dean's List with a 3.67 GPA and will graduate with a degree in Anthropology. Hanson, a sophomore from LaGrange, Ill., is majoring in Education and is on the Dean's List with a 3.94 GPA. A junior from Loveland, Ohio, MacLean is also on the Dean's List and carries a 3.53 GPA in Exercise Physiology. Mink, a senior, is on the Dean's List as well and carries a 3.52 GPA. The Mason, Ohio, native will graduate with a degree in Art. Plagens, a senior academically from Bay Village, Ohio, will graduate in English and carries a 3.33 GPA.

For a complete list of the Academic All-MAC Women's soccer team, please visit www.mac-sports.com.