Conference Carolinas Trio Named to CoSIDA Academic All-America Soccer Teams
AUSTIN, Texas - The 2021 Academic All-America Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams, selected by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Conference Carolinas had three student-athletes from two institutions earn first team recognition.
Chowan had a pair of student-athletes recognized in senior men’s soccer midfielder Harri Lovett and women’s soccer midfielder Carolina Lucci. The third honoree was Johannes Oeksnevad, a forward from Lees-McRae. Lucci and Oeksnevad each earned first team honors last season.
A junior midfielder/defender from Wrexham, Wales, Lovett led all of Conference Carolinas and was second in the country in assists with 14. The first-team all-league choice and D2 CCA All-American scored his lone goal of the season in Chowan’s NCAA advancement over West Florida. His goal tied things up at 1-1 and eventually led to Chowan earning a thrilling 13-12 penalty kick shootout advancement over West Florida. The 2021 Fall Conference Carolinas Elite 23 award winner was also chosen as a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District choice. Lovett owns a 4.0 grade-point average as a Business Administration major.
Lucci, a graduate student with a 3.90 grade point average in Organizational Leadership, finished the season tied for the conference lead in goals (12) and tied for third in points with 26 on 12 goals and two assists. A native of Monaca, Pennsylvania, Lucci was named to the women’s soccer first team all-conference and helped the Hawks to the seventh seed in the conference tournament.
Oeksnevad is also a first team All-Conference Carolinas selection and finished the season fourth in goals (9), sixth in assists (5), and had the third-most points on the season with 23. A senior from Hommersak, Norway, Oeksnevad is a 4.0 English & Sports Management major and helped the Bobcats to the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and the NAIA. First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early December. The full list of All-America selections are available here.
The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.