Nov. 3, 2010

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Three Viking soccer players have been selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District Team. Jeff Baker was named to the first team, Natalie Daniels was chosen to the second team, and Marley Greiner was selected to the third team.

The players were selected based on voting by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), who made the announcement on Tuesday (Nov. 2).

Baker, a senior, is the captain of the CSU men's soccer team. He has started all 17 matches this season. Baker has a 3.8 GPA and is majoring in sociology, psychology and criminology. He is from Vermillion, Ohio.

"Baker is a very hard worker," head coach Ali Kazemaini said. "He certainly has earned this honor. He is a leader on the field and in the classroom, and he set a great example for the rest of our team."

Daniels' honor comes after a season in which the junior set CSU season records in goals (nine) and points (22) and broke school records in goals (16), assists (12) and points (44). Daniels, a native of Olympia, Wash. has a 3.75 GPA and is majoring in finance.

Greiner, a senior, played in 13 matches this season, starting seven. She recorded an assist in Cleveland State's 2-2 tie vs. Kent State on Aug. 29. Greiner is from Burnaby, British Columbia and has a 3.93 GPA. She is majoring in chemistry.

Daniels and Greiner helped lead the Vikings to nine wins this season, the most in program history.

"They are so very deserving of this honor," head coach Derrek Falor said. "They have led the team since they got here. I am proud that they are the people being recognized, because they represent the university well in both the classroom and the field."

To be nominated for Academic All-District honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of the members of CoSIDA within the district. District IV is made up of schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.