Keywords: Illinois soccer, Academic All-District, College Sports Communicators, Illini women's soccer, Student-athlete honors
Six Illini soccer players earn all-district academic honors
CHAMPAIGN - Six Illinois soccer student-athletes were named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Senior midfielder Kennedy Berschel, senior defender Ella Karolak, junior forward Sarah Foley, senior defender Angie Galo, senior midfielder Sarah Hiestand, and junior forward Lia Howard each earned the prestigious academic distinction for the first time in their careers.
Berschel started all 18 matches this season, posting career-bests in goals (4), assists (4), points (12), and shots (18). Foley, an All-Big Ten Second Team selection, tallied personal-high marks in goals (11), shots (33), shots on goal (22), and game-winning goals (6).
Karolak helped the Illini defense record four shutouts, while also registering a career-best two assists. Galo started every match, setting new personal standards in goals (3), assists (2), shots (14), shots on goal (5), and minutes played (1,472).
Hiestand started all 18 games, scoring her first career goal and adding an assist. She also ranked fourth in the Big Ten with 79 interceptions during conference play. Howard found the back of the net three times, all in the 80th minute or later, and tied for the team lead with four assists.
The Academic All-District honorees will advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, with first, second and third-team selections to be announced in early December.
Illustrious - Showcases and the stories behind Illinois’ most iconic high school gyms
CHICAGO - On a quiet Saturday afternoon in January 2012, at the Oak Park-River Forest field house, a simple thought refused to leave Vincent Johnson alone.
Covering a girls basketball game for the Oak Leaves, Johnson found himself looking beyond the box score and into the bones of the building itself. The space was overwhelming in the best way. Big. Empty. Striking. The field house - massive, architectural, overwhelming in character - was alive with echoes. The gym itself demanded his attention.
Covering a girls basketball game for the Oak Leaves, Johnson found himself looking beyond the box score and into the bones of the building itself. The space was overwhelming in the best way. Big. Empty. Striking. The field house - massive, architectural, overwhelming in character - was alive with echoes. The gym itself demanded his attention.
