WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth University senior defender Ali Kliment was named to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-America Women's Soccer Third Team. Kliment, a team captain, was one of 11 student-athletes in the District II region to be selected Academic All-District First Team. Kliment, a two-time first-team All-Northeast Conference selection, was also a first team regional selection last season.

Kliment, who just concluded her career with the Hawks, while earning a pair of Northeast Conference Championships, is a 3.99 GPA student-athlete, majoring in political science.

"From the moment Ali stepped foot on campus she has epitomized the term student-athlete," stated head coach Krissy Turner. "To be recognized as one of the top 33 student-athletes in the nation is a remarkable accomplishment, and a true testament to her commitment to succeed."

Dr. Marilyn McNeil, Vice President and Director of Athletics added, "As a University, we embrace the notion of a true student-athlete and Ali reflects our commitment to this philosophy. We congratulate Ali for this outstanding recognition."

The center back was named first-team All-Northeast Conference, and the NEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, while also earning the distinction of being tabbed the Northeast Conference Women's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. As a junior, Kliment was added to the ESPN The Magazine All-District 2 First-Team, and named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team. She was also added to the NSCAA Scholar All-East Region Second Team.

In 2010, Kliment helped the Hawks to a second place league ranking in goals against average (.80) and goals allowed (15), while captaining a backline that blanked a then #17 Rutgers squad and defeated 2009 America East Champion Boston University to open the season and earn Monmouth its first ever national rankings.

Kliment, who was selected as a candidate for the 2010 Lowe's Senior Class Award, started each of the 66 matches she appeared in for the Hawks during her career, and added a pair of goals for the Blue and White to round out her tenure in West Long Branch this campaign.

The 11 first team members of the ESPN Academic All-America® University Division team have an average G.P.A. of 3.87. Three honorees have perfect 4.0 G.P.A.'s.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 15,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

The Academic All-America® program currently selects 12 teams at the University Division level and 12 teams at the College Division level. The program currently selects the following Academic All-America® teams: men's and women's soccer, volleyball, football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, men's cross country and track, women's cross country and track, men's at-large and women's at-large.

For more information about the ESPN Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com