OAC names five Women's Soccer players 2011 Academic All-OAC

By: Monique Bowman

ADA — Five Women's Soccer players have been named 2011 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference, as voted on by the league faculty athletic representatives.

Senior Alyssa Merrick, and juniors Paige Garber and Tara Tokar have been named Academic All-OAC, while senior Christina Spinarisand junior Nicole Grant have been named Academic All-OAC Honorable Mention.

To qualify, a student-athlete must have maintained a 3.25 grade point average as a sophomore or higher academic standing. Additionally, she must have also have been a starter or key reserve who has made a significant impact on her team.

Merrick, a business and sport management major, started in all 21 games at midfielder this season, leading the team in assists at 13. Coupled with her seven goals on the season, she finished third on the team in points at 27.

Tokar, a pharmacy major, started in all 21 games in which she appeared and is the only player on the Polar Bear team to start in all of her collegiate career games. She finished the season with eight points on three goals and two assists.

This is Tokar's second All-OAC honor, as she earned it as a sophomore last season.

At defender, Garber started in all 21 games and recorded one assist this season. She is no stranger to being honored for her work on and off the field, as this pharmacy major was one of three players named CoSIDA All-District 7 earlier this season.

Spinaris started in four of her 15 game appearances, playing at forward. The pharmacy major returned from injury this season, took aim at the goal 14 times and was a member of a Northern offense that garnered 46 goals this season compared to opponents' 14.

Grant, a defender and biology major, also started in every contest this season, tallying one assist. She was a member of a defensive front that recorded 11 shutouts.

Northern finished the season 16-3-2 overall, which included an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and a first round win for the first time in program history. Additionally, the team won the OAC Regular Season title following a 9-0 record against league opponents.