MVC Release
 
ST. LOUIS – Three Missouri State men's soccer student-athletes received academic recognition from the Missouri Valley Conference, the league office announced Monday (Nov. 21). Robbie Oslica and Phil Woods landed a spot on the MVC men's soccer scholar-athlete first team, while Liam Priestley collected an honorable mention.
 
For the second-consecutive year, Oslica has been awarded first team laurels for his success on the field and in the classroom. The junior was the only defender to start all 20 matches for the Bears in 2016 and finished second on the team in goals (3). After continuing to be a threat in MSU's backfield, Oslica earned a spot on the all-conference second team and collected all-tournament honors for the second-straight season. In the classroom, the cell and molecular biology major holds a 3.70 grade point average.
 
Woods lands a spot on the scholar-athlete first team after being named an honorable mention in 2015. Making appearances in all 20 matches for MSU, Woods finished the 2016 season in a tie for first on the team in assists (3) and tied for fifth in total shots (13). All three of Woods' assists were the helpers on Oslica's goals. With his 3.82 cumulative grade point average, the entertainment management major is just one of two MVC student-athletes to hold a 3.80 GPA or higher in the classroom.
 
Priestley's honorable mention is the first postseason accolade from the league in his career. The goalkeeper tallied six clean sheets in 2016, that included shutout victories over league foes Evansville and Central Arkansas. Priestley finished third in the MVC in goals against average (0.86), allowing just 18 goals on the year. The finance major holds a 3.48 GPA in the classroom, and is one of three Valley keepers to collect a scholar-athlete honorable mention.
 
All three student-athletes were recently named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District VI first team. Both Oslica and Woods are repeat honorees, after earning the distinction in 2015.
 
The criteria for the all-MVC honor parallels the CoSIDA standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale). Also, students must have participated in at least 75 percent of the regular-season matches or played in the league tournament. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.