Nebraska Wesleyan University senior Monica Hilger was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District women’s soccer team that was announced on Thursday (Oct. 30). Hilger was voted to the District 7 First-Team in the college division. This is the second straight season that Hilger has received Academic All-District First-Team recognition.

Hilger is now eligible for CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team for women’s soccer will be announced on Nov. 18.

The senior from Lincoln, Neb., has a 3.95 GPA in biology. She has started all 17 games this season as a defender for the NWU women’s team. She has now started 53 straight games for the Prairie Wolves. During her career she has scored two goals and has two assists. Hilger was an All-GPAC Second-Team pick in 2006.

Hilger is the only GPAC player to be named Academic All-District on the first or second team in the college division of District 7.

Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors: 1) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or better, 2) must have at least two terms of attendance at the institution, 3) must be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility, 4) must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.

The All-District selection is determined by voting of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). District VII is comprised of NCAA Division II and Division III and NAIA institutions from the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.