Nov. 14, 2003

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Emily Pierce has been selected to the Academic All-District III second team, as voted by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). This is the first such honor for the 5-9 defender on WCU's women's soccer team.

"This is a great honor for Emily, our program, and Western Carolina," WCU head coach Debbie Hensley praised. "It is nice to see her hard work on the field and in the classroom be recognized."

Pierce (Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank H.S.) carries a 3.906 grade point average in Biology at Western while starting for the Catamount soccer team for the second consecutive year. Pierce is a leader for the Catamount defense and was one of only three Cats to start every match in 2003. For the season, she fired seven shots, five of which were on goal, from her defender position.

Pierce scored her first collegiate goal against Delaware State as a rookie with the Cats, adding a second career goal against The Citadel three weeks later. In 2002, she helped anchor a defense that led the league and ranked 24th in the nation in goals against average, allowing just 16 goals in 19 matches for a 0.79 goals against average.

The sophomore was named to the Dean's List as well as the SoCon Academic Honor Roll after her freshman year and is currently eligible for the TIAA/CREF Academic All-Conference team for fall sports.