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SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Slippery Rock University men's soccer team garnered five student-athletes on the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced Tuesday.
 
In order to be eligible to earn a CSC Academic All-District selection, a student-athlete must own a cumulative grade point average above 3.50 and have significant athletic credentials. Additionally, athletes must have competed in 90 percent of their institution's games or have started in at least 66 percent of its games.
 
Topher Garcia, Luke Gildea, Will Harrigan, Aitor Jorde and Jeroen Van Der Veen all represent the Green and White on this year's CSC Academic All-District Team. With each of the five earning Academic All-District accolades for the first time in their career, the group marks the largest showing from Slippery Rock in program history.
 
Garcia, a senior from North Royalton, Ohio, appeared in all 17 games recording one assist while taking three shots. Garcia has totaled two points on two assists over the last three seasons, making 37 appearances on the pitch. Majoring in exercise science, Garcia is a four-time Dean's List honoree and a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete. Completing 102 credit hours, Garcia has earned a 3.65 cumulative GPA.
 
Gildea, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started all 17 games while registering eight points on two goals and a team-high four assists. The junior also led The Rock in shot accuracy as he placed 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) of his shots on frame. Over the last three years, Gildea has recorded 11 points on three goals and five assists. Majoring in health and physical education, Gildea is a four-time Dean's List honoree and a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete who has completed 88 credit hours with a 3.69 cumulative GPA.
 
Harrigan, a junior hailing from Manassas, Virginia, started 14 games and made 15 total appearances as a defender for SRU. In addition to placing three of his six shots on target, Harrigan also netted his first career goal this season. He concluded his 2023 campaign with his 40^th career appearance, averaging over 78 minutes per game in the year. Majoring in exercise science, Harrigan is a two-time Dean's List honoree and a two-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete. He has completed 86 credit hours and has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.79.
 
Jorde, a sophomore from Bilbao, Spain, netted 22 points on a team-high 10 goals and two assists. He ended the year on a hot streak, scoring seven goals in the final half-dozen matches. Jorde ranked fourth in the PSAC with .588 goals per game and was second in the conference with 2.94 shots per game, totaling an SRU-high 50 attempts on the year. Jorde's 2023 season marked the first time in nine years Slippery Rock has seen an athlete reach 10 goals.
 
The All-PSAC West honoree spends his time in the classroom majoring in economics. With 51 credit hours completed, Jorde has earned a 3.64 cumulative GPA.  
 
Van Der Veen, a transfer sophomore from Veghel, Netherlands, started all 17 games, recording an average of 81.4 minutes per contest. Serving aptly on the defense, Van Der Veen recorded three assists and 10 shots on the season, earning himself All-PSAC West Team accolades. With a 3.90 cumulative GPA and 31 credit hours completed, Van Der Veen is a management major.
 
Slippery Rock saw its season conclude Nov. 3, marked with a 5-8-4 overall record, just one spot shy of a berth in the PSAC Tournament. SRU finished with a 4-6 PSAC West record and a 4-3-1 mark while playing at home.
 
 


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