Eastern Michigan Athletics
Six EMU Soccer Eagles Named Academic All-MAC
1/15/2014 12:20:00 PM | Soccer
Clarke, Cutaia, Dzik, Kozikowski, McCabe and Vultaggio recognized for athletic and academic success
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The 2013 Mid-American Conference regular season champion Eastern Michigan University women's soccer team landed six Eagles on the Academic All-MAC list, the conference announced Wednesday, Jan. 15. Seniors Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) and Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Notre Dame Catholic), juniors Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich.-Troy), Marisa Kozikowski (Troy, Mich.-Athens) and Angela Vultaggio (Chesterfield, Mich. -L'Anse Creuse North) along with sophomore Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) were all recognized for their success on the field and in the classroom.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, 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. Award recipients are voted on by faculty athletic representatives at the Mid-American Conference institutions. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
The six student-athletes were vital in the soccer team's 3.64 grade point average, a mark that was the seventh-highest out of any NCAA institution. Moreover, the team GPA was the third best out of NCAA Division I schools along with standing atop the MAC.
Finishing her EMU soccer career on a high note, Clarke was a key factor for the MAC's best offense throughout the entire 2013 campaign. The All-MAC First Team member tallied 17 points, scoring five goals and dishing out seven assists. Three of her five goals came in clutch situations as the London, Ontario native successfully captitalized on all three of her penalty kick attempts. The senior shined in the classroom, boasting a 3.90 GPA as a biology major, allowing her to collect Capital One Academic All-Distict First Team honors before being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, the first Eagle to earn the recognition since Amanda Kulikowski in 2001.
In her final year donning the Green and White, Cutaia led the Eagles on and off the field as a team co-captain. The Burlington, Ontario native etched her name in the EMU record books with a historical 2013. Her 11 goals and 29 points are tied for the fifth most in one season at Eastern. Moreover, Cutaia ranks fifth in EMU laurels with 22 career goals while her 63 career points are fourth in program history. One of the most memorable moments of her career on the pitch happened Oct. 31, 2013 at Western Michigan, where she scored the game-winning goal to clinch EMU's first regular season MAC championship since 2003. After earning her bachelor's degree in exercise science this fall with a 3.38 GPA, Cutaia finishes her career as a two-time Academic All-MAC selection.
Dzik, the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, led a back line that pitched five shutouts in 2013. Along with her play on defense, Dzik proved to be an offensive threat on corner kicks as three headers found the back of the net during the season. Starting every game for the Eagles, Dzik was second on the team in minutes played with 1,930 out of a possible 1,967 minutes. Along with earning her second academic all-conference selection, the Troy, Mich. native also earned Capital One Academic All-District Second Team honors for her play on the field as well as holding a 3.98 GPA as a nursing major. She also earned a spot on the All-Great Lakes Region Third Team.
Kozikowski has found a spot on the Academic All-MAC team for the first time in her career after receiving honorable mention accolades a season ago. Along with Dzik and the rest of the EMU stingy defense, the second team All-MAC Eagle assisted in pitching five shutouts throughout the current 2013 campaign, leading to an individual MAC Defensive Player of the Week award during the season. Speaking of assists, Kozikowski tallied six of them, including two against Ohio in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals, Nov. 3, 2013. She was a vital factor on the field all season, playing 1,928 minutes out of a possible 1,967. While taking shots was not something she did often, Kozikowski landed all four of her attempts on goal. She is a communications major with a 3.55 GPA.
In her first full season in net for the Eagles, McCabe faced a school record 293 shots while stopping 80.2 percent of them. Her 93 saves were the third in the MAC, and she held a 1.06 goals against average throughout the season. McCabe produced four shutouts and played 84 minutes in another EMU shutout, leading to three MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors throughout the 2013 campaign. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native was noted for her academic and athletic success during the season, being named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week, Oct. 20, 2013. Although she is undecided on her career path, McCabe currently has a 3.68 grade point average.
Vultaggio was one of the leaders throughout the year as the Eagles secured the 2013 MAC regular season title. Leading the Mid-American Conference in shots (79), points (34) assists (8) as well as second in goals (13), the Chesterfield, Mich. native became the third Eagle in program history to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Along with being tabbed as the conference's best offensive player, the All-MAC First Team and All-Great Lakes Region Third Team honoree collected numerous weekly awards during the 2013 campaign. She was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions while also being recognized for her both her academic and athletic success, notching MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week accolades, Oct. 27, 2013. Her 13 goals and 34 points were the second-most recorded in one season at EMU, leading to a nomination for the Soccer News Net College Boot awarded to the women's college player of the year. Finding her place on the all-conference academic team for the first time in her career, Vultaggio holds a 3.55 GPA as a communications major.
Five Eagles also received honorable mention Academic All-MAC: Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London Secondary), Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill.-Victor J.), Molli Krick (Novi, Mich.-Novi), Martha Stevens (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-Marian) and Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Plymouth).
2013 Mid-American Conference Academic All-MAC Women's Soccer
Victoria Jacobs, Ball State
Kelsey Shapiro, Ball State
Cailey Starck, Ball State
Lauren Cadel, Bowling Green
Jenny Fowler, Bowling Green
Madeline Wideman, Bowling Green
Courtney Gross, Buffalo
Natalie Jurisevic, Buffalo
Tory Kinniard, Central Michigan
Grace Labrecque, Central Michigan
Estee Outcalt, Central Michigan
Stephanie Clarke, Eastern Michigan
Cara Cutaia, Eastern Michigan
Emily Dzik, Eastern Michigan
Marisa Kozikowski, Eastern Michigan
Megan McCabe, Eastern Michigan
Angela Vultaggio, Eastern Michigan
Jessacca Gironda, Kent State
Stephanie Haugh, Kent State
Morgan Mah, Kent State
Jess Bronke, Miami
Katy Dolesh, Miami
Haley Walter, Miami
Kayla Zakrzewski, Miami
Courtney Zanotti, Miami
Maggie Murnane, Ohio
Ashley Ross, Toledo
Rachel Chaney, Western Michigan
Ariana Donahue, Western Michigan
Lauren Fearday, Western Michigan
Lindsey Lee, Western Michigan
Kylie Nylen, Western Michigan
Megan Putnam, Western Michigan
Ali Russo, Western Michigan
Aubrey Sudomier, Western Michigan
Michelle Watson, Western Michigan
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, 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. Award recipients are voted on by faculty athletic representatives at the Mid-American Conference institutions. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
The six student-athletes were vital in the soccer team's 3.64 grade point average, a mark that was the seventh-highest out of any NCAA institution. Moreover, the team GPA was the third best out of NCAA Division I schools along with standing atop the MAC.
Finishing her EMU soccer career on a high note, Clarke was a key factor for the MAC's best offense throughout the entire 2013 campaign. The All-MAC First Team member tallied 17 points, scoring five goals and dishing out seven assists. Three of her five goals came in clutch situations as the London, Ontario native successfully captitalized on all three of her penalty kick attempts. The senior shined in the classroom, boasting a 3.90 GPA as a biology major, allowing her to collect Capital One Academic All-Distict First Team honors before being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, the first Eagle to earn the recognition since Amanda Kulikowski in 2001.
In her final year donning the Green and White, Cutaia led the Eagles on and off the field as a team co-captain. The Burlington, Ontario native etched her name in the EMU record books with a historical 2013. Her 11 goals and 29 points are tied for the fifth most in one season at Eastern. Moreover, Cutaia ranks fifth in EMU laurels with 22 career goals while her 63 career points are fourth in program history. One of the most memorable moments of her career on the pitch happened Oct. 31, 2013 at Western Michigan, where she scored the game-winning goal to clinch EMU's first regular season MAC championship since 2003. After earning her bachelor's degree in exercise science this fall with a 3.38 GPA, Cutaia finishes her career as a two-time Academic All-MAC selection.
Dzik, the MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, led a back line that pitched five shutouts in 2013. Along with her play on defense, Dzik proved to be an offensive threat on corner kicks as three headers found the back of the net during the season. Starting every game for the Eagles, Dzik was second on the team in minutes played with 1,930 out of a possible 1,967 minutes. Along with earning her second academic all-conference selection, the Troy, Mich. native also earned Capital One Academic All-District Second Team honors for her play on the field as well as holding a 3.98 GPA as a nursing major. She also earned a spot on the All-Great Lakes Region Third Team.
Kozikowski has found a spot on the Academic All-MAC team for the first time in her career after receiving honorable mention accolades a season ago. Along with Dzik and the rest of the EMU stingy defense, the second team All-MAC Eagle assisted in pitching five shutouts throughout the current 2013 campaign, leading to an individual MAC Defensive Player of the Week award during the season. Speaking of assists, Kozikowski tallied six of them, including two against Ohio in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals, Nov. 3, 2013. She was a vital factor on the field all season, playing 1,928 minutes out of a possible 1,967. While taking shots was not something she did often, Kozikowski landed all four of her attempts on goal. She is a communications major with a 3.55 GPA.
In her first full season in net for the Eagles, McCabe faced a school record 293 shots while stopping 80.2 percent of them. Her 93 saves were the third in the MAC, and she held a 1.06 goals against average throughout the season. McCabe produced four shutouts and played 84 minutes in another EMU shutout, leading to three MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors throughout the 2013 campaign. The Arlington Heights, Ill. native was noted for her academic and athletic success during the season, being named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week, Oct. 20, 2013. Although she is undecided on her career path, McCabe currently has a 3.68 grade point average.
Vultaggio was one of the leaders throughout the year as the Eagles secured the 2013 MAC regular season title. Leading the Mid-American Conference in shots (79), points (34) assists (8) as well as second in goals (13), the Chesterfield, Mich. native became the third Eagle in program history to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Along with being tabbed as the conference's best offensive player, the All-MAC First Team and All-Great Lakes Region Third Team honoree collected numerous weekly awards during the 2013 campaign. She was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions while also being recognized for her both her academic and athletic success, notching MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week accolades, Oct. 27, 2013. Her 13 goals and 34 points were the second-most recorded in one season at EMU, leading to a nomination for the Soccer News Net College Boot awarded to the women's college player of the year. Finding her place on the all-conference academic team for the first time in her career, Vultaggio holds a 3.55 GPA as a communications major.
Five Eagles also received honorable mention Academic All-MAC: Jennifer Bentley (London, Ontario-London Secondary), Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill.-Victor J.), Molli Krick (Novi, Mich.-Novi), Martha Stevens (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-Marian) and Megan Trapp (Plymouth, Mich.-Plymouth).
2013 Mid-American Conference Academic All-MAC Women's Soccer
Victoria Jacobs, Ball State
Kelsey Shapiro, Ball State
Cailey Starck, Ball State
Lauren Cadel, Bowling Green
Jenny Fowler, Bowling Green
Madeline Wideman, Bowling Green
Courtney Gross, Buffalo
Natalie Jurisevic, Buffalo
Tory Kinniard, Central Michigan
Grace Labrecque, Central Michigan
Estee Outcalt, Central Michigan
Stephanie Clarke, Eastern Michigan
Cara Cutaia, Eastern Michigan
Emily Dzik, Eastern Michigan
Marisa Kozikowski, Eastern Michigan
Megan McCabe, Eastern Michigan
Angela Vultaggio, Eastern Michigan
Jessacca Gironda, Kent State
Stephanie Haugh, Kent State
Morgan Mah, Kent State
Jess Bronke, Miami
Katy Dolesh, Miami
Haley Walter, Miami
Kayla Zakrzewski, Miami
Courtney Zanotti, Miami
Maggie Murnane, Ohio
Ashley Ross, Toledo
Rachel Chaney, Western Michigan
Ariana Donahue, Western Michigan
Lauren Fearday, Western Michigan
Lindsey Lee, Western Michigan
Kylie Nylen, Western Michigan
Megan Putnam, Western Michigan
Ali Russo, Western Michigan
Aubrey Sudomier, Western Michigan
Michelle Watson, Western Michigan
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