LOWELL, MA (Oct. 16, 2007) – Seniors Katelyn Campopiano (Chelmsford, MA), Celia Merullo (Wakefield, MA) and Tanekar Alexander (Warwick, RI) led five UMass Lowell women’s soccer players named to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team, released Wednesday.

Campopiano, Merullo and Alexander each earned spots on the first team while sophomore Jamie Gillis (North Billerica, MA) was named to the second team and sophomore Kelly Soper (Auburn, MA) to the third team.

Campopiano and Merullo each earned repeat honors. Campopiano earned first team honors last season while Merullo, who redshirted the 2006 season due to an injury, was named to the 2005 squad.

UML is currently 9-6-1 overall and 4-6-1 in the NE-10 entering Wednesday’s match at Southern Connecticut (7:00). The River Hawks currently rank No. 6 in the latest NSCAA New England Region poll.

Campopiano, Merullo, a defensive midfielder, and Gillis, a goalkeeper, has done well to keep the River Hawks among the Conference’s defensive leaders thus far. UML ranks tied for fourth in shutouts (seven) and sixth in goals against average (1.11).

A liberal arts major with a 3.68, Campopiano has started 15 matches and led UML to school records for fewest goals allowed in a season (17), achieved in both the 2005 and 2006 seasons. She has also been cited for her academic prowess, earning NE-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll Gold Scholar status as well as Dean’s List honors in several semesters.

The honor is the latest of several over a stellar career for Merullo, who has been UML’s unsung hero. She was named to both the NE-10 All-Academic and ESPN The Magazine All-District 1 teams in 2005, and sports the highest grade point average on the team with a 3.91 in accounting.

Last spring, Merullo was the recipient of UML’s National Student-Athlete Day award for the highest grade point average on the women’s soccer team. She is also a two-time NE-10 Commissioner’s Gold Scholar and has earned Dean’s List honors all six semesters.

Alexander, who transferred to UML from the Community College of Rhode Island last year, makes her first-ever appearance on the team. A criminal justice major, she has maintained a 3.64 average and ranks among UML’s scoring leaders with four goals and three assists thus far.

On the pitch, Alexander was named to the NSCAA All-New England Second Team as well as the NE-10 Third Team last season.

Gillis, who has never missed a minute in her two seasons (3,258 minutes), currently shares the NE-10 lead in shutouts (seven) and already holds school records for shutouts in a season (eight) and a career (15, perpetual).

Following a splendid freshman season, Gillis was named to both the NE-10 Third Team and NSCAA New England Region Second Team. A liberal arts major, Gillis has maintained a 3.47 GPA.

Soper has emerged among UML’s top scorers as well with five goals and two assists, which included a hat trick in a 3-0 victory over the University of New Haven.

A nursing major, Soper has maintained a 3.66.