Women's Soccer Standout Kelly Foley Earns Second Academic All-America Award

Kelly Foley

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg University women's soccer standout Kelly Foley, class of 2011 from Dublin, Ohio, has put the finishing touches on her collegiate career with second-team Academic All-America College Division honors for a second straight year.

Foley, a four-year starter at defensive back for the Tigers, previously earned first-team Academic All-District IV honors for a second straight year as a result of online voting conducted by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Student-athletes who make the first-team in district voting are then considered for Academic All-America awards by a committee.

"This is a fitting award to a very deserving student-athlete," said Wittenberg Women's Soccer Head Coach Norm Riker. "Kelly's strength of character shines through in all areas of her life: a community and campus leader, a two-term captain and 90-minute player on the soccer team, and two-time Academic All-American as a double major.

"I am so proud of her accomplishments and what she has done for our program as a player, leader and person. Her teammates and coaches are very happy for her and not at all surprised because we have seen her maturity, intelligence and character in action every day."

Foley, a business and geology double major, was chosen for the team in part thanks to her outstanding 3.96 grade point average. A Dean's List honoree every semester thus far in her collegiate career, Foley has been very active around campus, serving as the Class of 2011 secretary, secretary of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a representative in Wittenberg's Emerging Leaders program. In addition, Foley has done volunteer work at a local pre-school and with an organization called Compassion International.

A team captain in both 2009 and 2010, Foley is a Presidential Scholar, recipient of a Woodrow Wilson business scholarship and a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) scholar. In addition, she participates in research funded by the National Science Foundation.

Foley has helped the Tigers to another tremendous season, despite a loss to nationally ranked Denison in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament semifinals last night. Wittenberg, which had won four consecutive NCAC Tournament titles before this season, has 2010 records of 13-5-1 overall and 5-2-0 in the NCAC regular season.

Foley started all 18 games this year. In her collegiate career, the Tigers have won an NCAC regular season title, three NCAC Tournament crowns and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament in each of the last three years. Wittenberg has a four-year record of 54-17-15 during Foley's collegiate career.

Foley is the second Tiger women's soccer player to earn two Academic All-America awards in her collegiate career and just the sixth Wittenberg student-athlete overall to earn two or more Academic All-America awards.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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