SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University’s Michael Caccavo (Mississauga, Ont.), Bethany Balcer (Hudsonville, MI / Unity Christian) and Rachel DeLancey (Glenshaw, PA / Shaler Area) have been named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) First Team Academic All-America®. The annual award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their performances on the playing field and in the classroom.
Caccavo and the men’s soccer team are having one of the best seasons in program history as the defender has helped SAU to a 15-3-4 overall record, a Crossroads League Tournament title and a trip to the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site – the farthest the program has advanced since 1977. The Mississauga, Ontario native was named the Crossroad League’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and has anchored a defense that has posted nine shutouts. In addition to his strong defensive play, he has scored four goals this season, giving him 26 for his career.
Caccavo, who earned his second straight Academic All-America selection, has a 3.59 GPA as a health and exercise science major.
The 11-member CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division Men’s Soccer first team has an average GPA of 3.80, which includes two student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA. The team is represented by 10 seniors and one junior.
Balcer and DeLancey have led the defending national champion women’s soccer team to a 19-0-1 record this season, a seventh straight Crossroads League championship and a third consecutive appearance in the sweet 16 of the national tournament.
Balcer, who was honored as the Crossroads League Player of the Year for the second straight season, ranks first in the conference in points (65), goals (27) and assists (11). Following a record-breaking freshman campaign, where she tallied 30 goals and 13 assists, she was named the NAIA National Player of the Year – the first freshman to ever receive the award. In the classroom, Balcer has a 3.72 GPA in biology.
DeLancey earned her first career All-Crossroads League selection this season. The senior defender from Glenshaw, Pennsylvania is the backbone of an SAU backline that has conceded the fewest goals in the country, surrendering just four in 20 matches. The Cougars have also registered 16 shutouts in 2016 – the third-most in the NAIA. DeLancey boasts an impressive 3.90 GPA and is majoring in health and exercise science.
The 11-member CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division Women’s Soccer first team has an average GPA of 3.91, which includes four student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA. The team consists of eight seniors, two juniors and one sophomore.
To be eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
