Soccer Places Nine on Academic All-MAC Team
5/18/2021 2:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY – After a successful season on the pitch, the University at Buffalo women's soccer team continues to excel in the classroom as well as nine student-athletes earned a spot on the Academic All-MAC team, as announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. The nine Bulls recognized are the second-most in program history, just one shy of last year's mark of 10 honorees.
A total of 130 student-athletes were named to this year's squad.
Joining the squad was seniors Marcy Barberic, Kaitlyn Walsh and Gianna Yurchak, juniors Katherine Camper, Tess Ford, Emily Kelly and Annie Judasz and sophomores Jennifer Mandarano and Leah Wengender.
"Our student-athletes worlds have been flipped upside down these last 14 months, yet they continue to show resiliency and excel," said head coach Shawn Burke. "They did not let remote learning, zoom presentations or virtual study groups detour them from their academic excellence."
Barberic, a communication major with a 3.255 GPA, was honored for the third straight season. Barberic was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Bulls' offense with nine goals and an assist on a team-best 39 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season. The Grand Island, NY native is now ninth in program history in career goals (23) and total points (59).
An occupational therapy major, Yurchak graduated with a 3.593 GPA and currently maintains a 3.938 major in graduate school. She was placed on the squad for the third time in her career. Yurchak earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career. The senior captain was second on the team in points (10), recording three goals and four assists in seven starts this season. For her career, she has recorded 12 goals, 10 assists, 34 points and 81 total shots in 64 games.
Earning the recognition for the first time in her Buffalo career, Walsh is a speech and hearing sciences major with a 3.355 GPA. Walsh started seven games for UB this season, recording two goals and two assists on six shots.
Camper, a biological sciences major with a 4.0 GPA, was honored for the second straight season. The Brunswick, OH native appeared in six games for UB, recording one goal and three assists while taking six shots.
A communication major with a 3.833 GPA, Kelly was placed on the squad for the second time in her career. Kelly earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her UB career after finishing the season with a 6-1-1 overall record, four shutouts, 28 saves, a .0.61 goals against average and a .848 save percentage. The Wilson, NY native currently ranks fourth in program history with 26 career wins, 16 shutouts, and a 1.13 goals against average while ranking just outside the top 10 in saves (203).
Ford, an exercise science major with a 3.515 GPA, also earns the recognition for the second time in her career. Ford appeared in seven games, leading a strong UB defense that secured four clean sheets on the season while holding opponents to a 0.59 goals-against average.
A mechanical engineering major with a 3.976 GPA, Judasz was placed on the squad for the second time in her career. The Lancaster, NY native appeared in all eight games for UB as a junior while earning two starts.
Wengender, an economics major with a 3.542 GPA, earns the recognition for the first time in her career. After earning a spot on the All-Freshman team a season ago, Wengender earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career as a sophomore. The Rochester, NY native continued to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring two goals and recording four assists on 15 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season.
Also earning the recognition for the first time in her Buffalo career, Mandarano is an engineering major with a 3.783 GPA. The Caledonia, NY native appeared in four games for the Bulls as a sophomore.
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. Student-athletes in their first year of competition are not eligible.
A total of 130 student-athletes were named to this year's squad.
Joining the squad was seniors Marcy Barberic, Kaitlyn Walsh and Gianna Yurchak, juniors Katherine Camper, Tess Ford, Emily Kelly and Annie Judasz and sophomores Jennifer Mandarano and Leah Wengender.
"Our student-athletes worlds have been flipped upside down these last 14 months, yet they continue to show resiliency and excel," said head coach Shawn Burke. "They did not let remote learning, zoom presentations or virtual study groups detour them from their academic excellence."
Barberic, a communication major with a 3.255 GPA, was honored for the third straight season. Barberic was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Bulls' offense with nine goals and an assist on a team-best 39 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season. The Grand Island, NY native is now ninth in program history in career goals (23) and total points (59).
An occupational therapy major, Yurchak graduated with a 3.593 GPA and currently maintains a 3.938 major in graduate school. She was placed on the squad for the third time in her career. Yurchak earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career. The senior captain was second on the team in points (10), recording three goals and four assists in seven starts this season. For her career, she has recorded 12 goals, 10 assists, 34 points and 81 total shots in 64 games.
Earning the recognition for the first time in her Buffalo career, Walsh is a speech and hearing sciences major with a 3.355 GPA. Walsh started seven games for UB this season, recording two goals and two assists on six shots.
Camper, a biological sciences major with a 4.0 GPA, was honored for the second straight season. The Brunswick, OH native appeared in six games for UB, recording one goal and three assists while taking six shots.
A communication major with a 3.833 GPA, Kelly was placed on the squad for the second time in her career. Kelly earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her UB career after finishing the season with a 6-1-1 overall record, four shutouts, 28 saves, a .0.61 goals against average and a .848 save percentage. The Wilson, NY native currently ranks fourth in program history with 26 career wins, 16 shutouts, and a 1.13 goals against average while ranking just outside the top 10 in saves (203).
Ford, an exercise science major with a 3.515 GPA, also earns the recognition for the second time in her career. Ford appeared in seven games, leading a strong UB defense that secured four clean sheets on the season while holding opponents to a 0.59 goals-against average.
A mechanical engineering major with a 3.976 GPA, Judasz was placed on the squad for the second time in her career. The Lancaster, NY native appeared in all eight games for UB as a junior while earning two starts.
Wengender, an economics major with a 3.542 GPA, earns the recognition for the first time in her career. After earning a spot on the All-Freshman team a season ago, Wengender earned Second Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career as a sophomore. The Rochester, NY native continued to bring speed and versatility to the Bulls attack, scoring two goals and recording four assists on 15 shots while starting all eight games for UB this season.
Also earning the recognition for the first time in her Buffalo career, Mandarano is an engineering major with a 3.783 GPA. The Caledonia, NY native appeared in four games for the Bulls as a sophomore.
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. Student-athletes in their first year of competition are not eligible.
Players Mentioned
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