Senior Tara Kirkpatrick Earns NSCAA Academic All-American

by Jeremey Phillips, Regis Sports Information Director

Denver, Colo.: Regis University women's soccer star Tara Kirkpatrick was named Second Team Academic All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The senior from Lincoln, Neb. was one of only 33 student-athletes to earn the award in the College Division, which is comprised of schools competing in NCAA Div. II and III and NAIA Div. I and II. In 2006, Kirkpatrick earned a spot on the First Team Academic All-American squad.

Kirkpatrick, who has a perfect 4.0 GPA in biology, was also named NSCAA First Team All-Midwest Region based on her performance on the field. She played in 18 games for the Rangers and was the Rangers top defender. She was selected as a First Team All-RMAC and First Team Academic All-RMAC selection this past fall, while also being named to the Daktronics All-Midwest second team.

Kirkpatrick and the Ranger soccer team finished with a 9-11 record this season, garnering the fifth seed at the RMAC tournament. She was named first team all-conference all four years at Regis, while also being named RMAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. In her four years as starting defender, she guided the Rangers to a 56-29-5 record.

Regis University is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).