KENT, Ohio - Three Kent State women's soccer players were selected Thursday (Jan. 7) to the 2009 Academic All-MAC Team, the Mid-American Conference announced today. Seniors Jackie Barath (Strongsville, Ohio) was selected to the team for the second straight year, while Beth Diederich (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Megan Hill (Verona, Pa.) were honorable mention selections in 2008.

Barath, a speech pathology & audiology major with a 3.74 grade-point average, started 18 of Kent State's 19 games on the defense. She was second among field players in minutes played and had five shots, including two shots on goal, in 2009.

Diederich, a 3.80 GPA in Spanish education, finished fifth on the team in goals scored, as Diederich tallied the game-tying goal against Northern Illinois Oct. 9 and scored against Cleveland State Aug. 28.

Hill compiled a 3.93 GPA in political science as a Kent State student-athlete, the highest GPA on the team. She started 11 games as a senior, where she helped the KSU defense post a 1.09 goals-against average, an improvement of 0.55 goals per game from the season previous.

To be nominated for the academic all-conference team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.

2009 Women's Soccer Academic All-MAC Team
Megan Ridley, Ball State
Tina Vannatta, Ball State
Alicia Almond, Bowling Green
Leah Johnson, Bowling Green
Katie Stephenson, Bowling Green
Chelsi Abbot, Central Michigan
Bethany Allport, Central Michigan
Molly Gerst, Central Michigan
Shay Mannino, Central Michigan
Kristen Pelkki, Central Michigan
Valerie Prause, Central Michigan
Liesel Toth, Central Michigan
Ashley Rodrigues, Eastern Michigan
Katie Lozar, Eastern Michigan
Chelsea Detrick, Eastern Michigan
Jackie Barath, Kent State
Beth Diederich, Kent State
Megan Hill, Kent State
Rachel Byron, Miami
Courtney Clarke, Miami
Stephanie Laser, Miami
Brooke Livingston, Miami
Anne Wyer, Northern Illinois
Lindsey Curnock, Northern Illinois
Ainsley Bodi, Ohio
Sarah Brown, Ohio
Erin Flynn, Toledo
Nora Jereb, Toledo
Ali Leak, Toledo
Alyssa Niese, Toledo
Vicki Traven, Toledo
Hillary Wemlund, Western Michigan