SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Six members of the Union College women's soccer team were recognized for their contributions on the field and success in the classroom with spots on the 2024 Academic All-District Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators and announced on Tuesday. Seniors Maddy Mack and Grace Penna, juniors Anne Pearl and Anabelle Thomas, and sophomores Maya Koster and Ashley Sheldon all were honored for the first time in their collegiate careers.
 
To be nominated for College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must compete in 90 percent of or start at least 66 percent of an institution's matches, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, and reach sophomore athletic and academic standing at the school. Academic All-District honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot, the results of which will be announced in December.
 
Mack, Pearl and Sheldon all were key contributors to the Union defensive unit that conceded an average of 0.53 goals per game and combined to earn 11 shutouts in 19 matches, including a streak of nearly 516 scoreless minutes spanning six games in early October. Pearl was named to the All-Liberty League third team and started all 19 matches on defense, in addition to scoring one goal and adding an assist. Mack was the only other Garnet Charger to start all 19 matches this season and led the team in minutes played, while Sheldon started every match except Senior Day and also chipped in one assist in 19 matches.
 
The backbone of the defense was Koster, who posted a 0.67 goals against average and .873 save percentage to go with a 6-4-4 record and four shutouts as a sophomore. She ended the season tops in the Liberty League in save percentage and second in goals against average.
 
Penna and Thomas were both key contributors to the forward and midfield units for Union on the season. Thomas ranked third in the team in scoring with three goals and one assist for seven points, including scoring the game-winning goal against Ramapo College of New Jersey. Penna chipped in two goals and two assists for six points, helped by a career-high five-point effort against Bard College.
 
With the six honorees, Union student-athletes have now earned 227 Academic All-District honors since 2001. The women's soccer team ranks third among all Union programs with 23 honorees over that span, the most by any women's sport at the College.