IRVING, Texas – Seniors Iris Dunn, Caitlin Hesse and Olivia Fitzgerald have been named to the 2016 InTouch Credit Union C-USA All-Academic Second Team as announced by the conference office Wednesday morning.
The selection of three WKU players marks the third consecutive season that the Lady Toppers have landed three representatives on the C-USA All-Academic Teams. Hesse and Dunn have each earned the honor three times in their careers, while Fitzgerald's selection is the first for the defender.
Dunn, who owns a 3.80 GPA in interdisciplinary studies, ranks second among Lady Toppers with five goals and 12 points this season. The Tavernier, Fla., native is tied for sixth on WKU's all-time charts with 22 career goals and has nine match-winning goals in her career, including winners against Rice and UAB this season, to tie for fourth in that category. Dunn was also selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and was a Second Team All-C-USA selection.
Owner of a 3.97 GPA in exercise science, Hesse ranks second on the team with three assists this season. The senior from Atlanta, Ga., served up an assist on Dunn's winner against UAB and also tallied her lone goal of the season in the opener at UT Martin; that score would prove to be the match-winner against the Skyhawks. Hesse also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for the second consecutive season.
Fitzgerald closes out WKU's trio of honorees with a 3.92 GPA as a nursing major. One of the top defenders in the conference, the senior was named First Team All-C-USA after leading the Lady Toppers with 1,615 minutes as the center back on defense, limiting opponents to just 12 goals in 18 matches. The Carmel, Ind., native was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 and, like Dunn and Hesse, also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and will represent WKU on the Academic All-America ballot this month.
WKU's All-Academic trio will be in action on Wednesday evening as they open the C-USA Tournament at 6 p.m. (CT) against host Charlotte at Transamerica Field. The winner of Wednesday's match will advance to Friday's semifinals and will play at 6 p.m. (CT) against the winner of Rice-UTEP. WKU did not face the Miners during the regular season, but earned a 1-0 victory over Rice in Houston on Sept. 30. Friday's match will also be carried on C-USA TV.
The 2016 WKU Soccer season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For more information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team via social media @WKU_Soccer on Twitter and Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUAthletics.
