Five Women’s Soccer Players Named To ESPN Academic All-District Teams

Five Women’s Soccer Players Named To ESPN Academic All-District Teams
November 3, 2010

TOWSON, Md. -- Five women's soccer players from the South Atlantic Conference have been named to the 2010 CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-District teams, it was announced.

Mars Hill's Abby Martin and Wingate's Samantha Baldwin were named to the first in Disctrict III, while Lenoir-Rhyne's Elizabeth Hawes and Amber Holt both were named to the secnod team. Tusculum's Michelle Meade was named to the second team in District IV.

District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. The members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (by districts) select the ESPN Academic All-District women's soccer teams. District IV includes all colleges and universities from Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio and Michigan.

Abby Martin
Samantha Baldwin
Amber Holt
Elizabeth Hawes
Michelle Meade


Abby Martin

Abby Martin has been named to the 2010 CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-District first team for the College Division of District III. Martin was named to the second team in 2008 and 2009 and is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

The Greer, S.C., native boasts a 3.90 GPA in Elementary Education. She led the SAC this season in goals per match and points per match.

Samantha Baldwin

Wingate University senior defender Samantha Baldwin (Stallings, N.C.) has been named to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-District III women's soccer first team (college division), selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Baldwin is a repeat performer, as she earned third team district honors in 2009.

A graduate of Sun Valley High School, Baldwin is one of two South Atlantic Conference student-athletes on the 11-person first team. Mars Hill College senior forward Abby Martin (Greer, S.C.) joins Baldwin on the first squad. Baldwin, Martin and the other nine first-team members will advance to the ESPN Academic All-America® national ballot.

A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Baldwin and her Bulldog defensive mates lead the SAC in fewest goals allowed (11) and GAA (0.65). On the offensive side of the pitch, Baldwin had an assist in a victory over Queens University of Charlotte (Sept. 8, 2010).

In 2009, Baldwin had two goals (AASU, Brevard). Baldwin helped the 2008 Wingate side equal a school-record with 14 victories. In the classroom, Baldwin possesses a 3.84 GPA as a Biology major. Baldwin is a SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll student. In the community, she is a Habitat for Humanity and soccer camp volunteer.

Elizabeth Hawes and Amber Holt

Lenoir-Rhyne University's Elizabeth Hawes and Amber Holt have been named to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-District III Women's Soccer College Division Second Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Hawes, a sophomore midfielder from Valdese, N.C., earned 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II First-Team All-American honors and was named the South Atlantic Conference Player Of The Year and Freshman Of The Year last season as well.

Hawes led the league in goals (17) and points (41) last fall and has six goals including four game-winners and 14 total points this year.

Hawes, a 2009 all-region honoree, sports a 3.92 grade point average while majoring in chemistry.

Holt, a senior forward from Charlotte, N.C., currently leads Lenoir-Rhyne in goals (eight) and points (21) this season and was a 2007 First-Team All-South Atlantic Conference honoree.

Holt, a four-year letterwinner on the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball Team (2007-10), is majoring in sports management and has a 3.81 grade point average.

Both players have led L-R (14-2-1) to its first-ever South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship in 2010 and the top seed in this season's Food Lion SAC Women's Soccer Tournament.

Michelle Meade

Tusculum College junior midfielder Michelle Meade has been selected to the 2010 Academic All-District IV Women's Soccer Team, presented by ESPN and selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Meade, a second-team selection, is the fourth different Pioneer to receive Academic All-District accolades, joining three-time selections Denise Fliesser (2003, 2004, 2005) and Nicole Ferris (2006, 2007, 2008) along with Ashley Moreira (2006).

A native of Greeneville, Meade finished the regular season ranked second on the Pioneer squad in goals (eight) and points (22), while leading the team with three game-winning goals. She was a 2010 preseason All-South Atlantic Conference second-team selection and a 2008 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region second-team choice, and ranks fourth in program history in career assists with 25.

Academically, Meade carries a 3.69 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in business administration and accounting. She is a member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, the Dean's List and the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List. Meade has also volunteered as part of the Nettie Day Community Service Initiative, and has served as a counselor for soccer clinics and a youth coach.