LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kendra Benson (Anoka, Minn.), a Concordia University soccer player, has been named to the 2008 ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District Third Team, as voted on by District 5 sports information directors.  Benson is a double major at Concordia in biology and kinesiology and has a 3.93 gpa.

Benson served as one of the leading defenders for the Golden Bears in 2008.  She played all 20 games for Concordia as a junior and helped the team post five shutouts this season.  She is a two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree.  Benson is one of seven NSIC athletes named to Academic All-District teams this season.

Pos. Name School Dist. Yr. Hometown GPA Major
GK Abby Tracy INDIANAPOLIS V Sr. St. Louis, Mo. 3.92 Biology, chemistry, pre-med
M Rachelle Barina ST. NORBERT V Sr. New Berlin, Wis. 4.00 Religious studies
M Jen Lyman ROSE-HULMAN V Sr. Irwin, Pa. 3.72 Civil engineering
M Annmarie Stanley ROSE-HULMAN V So. Warrenville, Ill. 4.00 Computer engineering
M Kari Zielke CONCORDIA (IL) V Sr. Elmhurst, Ill. 3.94 Elementary education, math
D Heather Skeen AURORA V Sr. Loveland, Colo. 3.96 Psychology, English
D Alison Dittmer GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS V Jr. Plymouth, Minn. 3.85 Biochemistry, molecular biology
D Whitney Holman AUGSBURG V Jr. New Hope, Minn. 3.93 Religion, psychology
D Jessica Millard WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE V Sr. Madison, Wis. 3.81 Finance, accounting
F Jenni Jacobsen ST. NORBERT V Sr. Neenah, Wis. 4.00 Mathematics, economics
F Amy Christenson LAKELAND V Sr. Dodgeville, Wis. 3.98 Accounting
F Liz Ridgway ROSE-HULMAN V Sr. Grosse Pointe, Mich. 3.79 Civil engineering
F Becky Anderson MINNESOTA DULUTH V So. Duluth, Minn. 4.00 Biochemistry, molecular biology

SECOND TEAM
GK Allie Rivard WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE V Sr. Plymouth, Minn. 3.60 Biology
M Liz Kooistra WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE V Sr. Lakeville, Minn. 3.50 Psychology
M Claire Gill CHICAGO V Jr. Los Altos Hills, Calif. 3.83 International studies
D Kaitlin Arjes WISCONSIN-STOUT V So. Owatonna, Minn. 4.00 Graphic design
D Kelly Sadler MINNESOTA ST. MANKATO V Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D. 3.83 Elementary education
D Jacki Ponder DEPAUW V Sr. Carmel, Ind. 3.95 Biology
D Felicia Faison AUGSBURG V Sr. Minneapolis, Minn. 3.74 Accounting
F Eva Post PRINCIPIA V Sr. Malibu, Calif 3.92 History
F Robin Johnson ST. SCHOLASTICA V Sr. Duluth, Minn. 3.57 Elementary education
F Elyse Clouthier EDGEWOOD V Jr. Oconomowoc, Wis. 3.73 Spanish

THIRD TEAM
GK Amanda Diehm WINONA STATE V Sr. Simi Valley, Calif. 3.50 Sociology
M Kristen Stangel ST. SCHOLASTICA V Sr. Grand Rapids, Minn. 4.00 Physical therapy
M Jessie Audas MINNESOTA ST. MANKATO V So. Omaha, Neb. 4.00 Business
M Nikki Counsell AURORA V Jr. Oconomowoc, Wis. 3.88 Elementary education, Spanish
M Becky Fleming QUINCY V Jr. St. Louis, Mo. 3.36 Social work
D Darla Smith AUGUSTANA (IL) V Jr. Davenport, Iowa 3.54 Elementary educaton
D Kendra Benson CONCORDIA (MN) V Jr. Anoka, Minn. 3.93 Biology, kinesiology
D Alysha Domiano BEMIDJI STATE V So. Dayton, Minn. 3.82 Math education
D Caitlin Hartman AURORA V So. Parker, Colo. 3.69 Undecided
D Tanya Romano MILLIKIN V So. Palatine, Ill. 3.94 Physical education
F Allison Horne MILLIKIN V So. Downers Grove, Ill. 3.69 English
F Alex Paffrath MINNESOTA DULUTH V Jr. Owatonna, Minn. 4.00 Biochemistry