Complete CoSIDA Division III Academic All-America Team (.pdf)
AUSTIN, Texas – Baldwin Wallace University junior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference forward Rachel Bender (Massillon/Jackson) has been named a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American for the first time in her career.
Bender, who was named to the second team, becomes just the second Yellow Jacket women's soccer student-athlete to be named an Academic All-American after Allie Wojtkun '08 received second-team honors from ESPN THE MAGAZINE in 2008. The junior was just one of two OAC student-athletes on this year's team.
A communications sciences and disorders major, Bender carries a 3.93 GPA. She is a Dean's List student, a Jacket Scholar and a two-time Academic All-OAC selection.
On the field this season, Bender earned her third straight OAC first-team selection and Forward of the Year honors by leading the conference and the Yellow Jackets in most offensive categories: goals (16), points (40) and shots (115). She also finished second in the conference with her team-leading eight assists. This season, she recorded her first collegiate four-goal game against Bluffton University on Sept. 16 en route to being named OAC Women's Soccer Player of the Week on Sept. 18. Bender was also named the Most Valuable Player of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament, hosted by Penn State Behrend College; selected to the 2017 OAC Tournament Team; and named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region second team.
For her career, Bender has appeared in 64 games and has tallied 46 goals and 21 assists for 113 points, ranking second in school history in career goals scored and points scored and fifth in career assists.
BW's 109 all-time Academic All-Americans is more than any Division III college or university in the OAC or the state of Ohio and ranks 12th nationally in Division III.