Record-Breaking 14 from OLLU Earn NAIA Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete Recognition

KANSAS CITY, MO. (Nov. 25, 2023) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2023 Daktronics NAIA Women's Soccer Scholar-Athletes on Friday. Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) boasts the most scholar-athletes from any team in school history with 14. Last season, the women's soccer team had 12 on the list. 

The 2023 list features 1,443 student-athletes who achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at their institution. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

Senior Samantha Benne, a Business Marketing and Communications/Public Relations major, has been part of the team since 2020. She played in 10 games this season, four as a starter, and she took six shots, two on goal. She earned a 3.97 GPA.

Senior Ijayla Criswell, a Biology major, has been with the team since 2020. She played in 16 games, 15 as a starter. She scored on goal this year. She marked a 3.55 GPA.

Senior Rachel Dziuba, a Biomathematics/  Science major, has been part of the team since 2020. She played and started in 12 games, and she took eight shots, three on goal. She earned a 4.00 GPA.

Sophomore Bethany Garr, a Biology major, has been part of the team since 2022. She played in nine games, and she took eight shots, five on goal. She marked a 3.74 GPA.

Sophomore Lilliana Martinez, a Psychology major, has been part of the team since 2022. She played in five games and scored two goals. She marked a 3.66 GPA.

Senior Samantha Nava, a Biology major, has been part of the team since 2020. She played in 14 games, four as a starter. She had three assists. She earned a 4.00 GPA.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Olivas, a Kinesiology major, has been part of the team since 2022. She earned 3.82 GPA.

Junior Haven Ortiz, a Psychology and Criminal Justice major, has been part of the team since 2021. She played in 16 games, 15 as a starter. She scored one goal. She marked a 3.80 GPA.

Sophomore Gabrielle Pace, a Kinesiology major, has been part of the team since 2022. She played in three games. She earned a 3.55 GPA.

Senior Tess Pitcher, a Business Management major, has been part of the team since 2020. She played in 16 games, all as a starter. She recorded 66 saves and had a 9-4-2 record. She marked a 3.82 GPA.

Junior Lyndee Rheinberger, an Education major, has been part of the team since 2021. She played in 15 games, four as a starter. She scored three goals and had two assists. She earned a 3.90 GPA.

Graduate student Jaylin Seto, an Organizational Leadership major, has been part of the team since 2018. She played in 14 games, 12 as a starter. She scored four goals and had five assists. She marked 36 shots, 20 on goal, and she scored a penalty kick. She earned a 4.00 GPA.

Senior Deanna Tarango, a Visual and New Media Arts major, has been part of the team since 2020. She started and played in 14 games. She marked a 3.86 GPA.

Senior Ez Valles, a Psychology and Social Work major, has been part of the team since 2020. She played in 15 games, 11 as a starter. She scored three goals and took six shots, five on goal. She earned a 3.52 GPA.

To learn more about the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete program, click HERE.