Alex Eckhardt is one of three Skyhawks to make a repeat appearance on the Academic All-Conference Team.

Easton, Mass. - Lauren Boyd (Sandwich, Mass.), Alex Eckhardt (Marshfield, Mass.), Meghan O'Brien (Stow, Mass.) and Kelley Harper (Liverpool, N.Y.) were named to the Northeast-10 Conference 2007 Women's Soccer All-Academic Third Team the Conference office announced on Wednesday. The team, which is selected by Northeast-10 Sports Information Directors, is comprised of student-athletes that excel on the field as well as in the classroom.  

Stonehill's foursome is the second most of any other institution. St. Rose, sporting an undefeated record at 13-0-2, collected six honorees. Boyd, Eckhardt and O'Brien also received third-team accolades a season ago.

Boyd, a criminology and sociology major, is having another stellar season, leading the team in goals (11) and points (22). In 56 career starts for the Skyhawks, Boyd has netted 39 goals, including three straight 10+ goal seasons.

Eckhardt, a communications major, has assembled an impressive senior season, boasting a 1.38 goals against average and is one of only two players to start every game for the Skyhawks this season. She claimed three shutouts during Stonehill's recent four-game winning streak and has four overall this season.

Another senior, O'Brien, a psychology and sociology major and excellent two-way player, has three goals and an assist in her eight starts this season.

An, unsung defensive star, Harper rounds out the Stonehill contingent.  The junior business and finance student is a major contributor to Stonehill's stingy defense, helping the Skyhawks post four shutouts in 2007.

To be eligible for selection to the academic teams, a student-athlete must have met and/or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) participated in at least half of the team's competitions and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and 3) completed at least one academic year at his/her current institution.

The Skyhawks, now 7-6-2 overall, return to action on Saturday when they play host to UMass-Lowell at 2:30 p.m.