More accolades for Sobol who earns NSCAA scholar awards

ORANGE, Calif. – The offseason has been almost as busy for Chapman University's junior M Val Sobol as the soccer season. Already named to the NSCAA Division III All-America and All-West Region teams for her performance on the field during the 2012 season, the women's soccer star has now earned Scholar All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

By earning both All-America and Scholar All-America from the NSCAA, Sobol pulled off a feat never before accomplished by a Chapman soccer player.

The junior first earned NSCAA College Division Scholar All-West Region honors, one of just 11 players named to the first team out of all Division II, III and NAIA schools in the Western United States. From there, Sobol was named to the College Division Scholar All-America second team on the strength of a 3.84 grade-point average while double-majoring in accounting and business finance.

Earlier this month she became just the second All-American in Chapman's women's soccer history and is now the first Panther soccer player (men or women) to earn Scholar All-America honors.

Sobol played a large role in Chapman's success in 2012, leading the team in goals (10) and total points (25) and helping the Panthers to a 16-6-1 record, a SCIAC Tournament championship and an appearance in the NCAA playoffs. Sobol also came within one game winning goal of the school record with six game-winners this season – ranking 19th in the country in that category. She is currently in ninth place all-time in school history with 60 career points.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

NSCAA College Division Scholar All-America team: http://www.nscaa.com/awards/college/2012-womens-scholar-all-america-college-division

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