Loyola's Ferraina named First-Team Academic All-American

Graduate student Theresa Ferraina (Long Branch, N.J./St. John Vianney) was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team today for her excellence in the classroom and on the field.  One of ten finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which will be announced December 4, this is the second straight season Ferraina earned first-team recognition.

Ferraina, who earned a perfect 4.0 undergraduate grade point average in business administration and finance, is currently pursuing her M.B.A. She was one of 12 players from all NCAA Division I programs nationally to be named to the first team.

"Theresa truly exemplifies what being a complete student-athlete is all about," head coach Katherine Remy Vettori said. "She is dedicated to striving for excellence in every aspect of her life. I couldn\'t be more proud of her for this wonderful achievement."

In her fourth and final season with the Greyhounds, Ferraina scored seven goals and three assists for 17 points, helping her earn the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year Award.  A co-captain in 2009, Ferraina led the Greyhounds to a 15-5-3 record, a conference championship title and their seventh bid to the NCAA College Cup.  The 15 victories for Loyola were the second-most in team-history, and prior to a loss against West Virginia in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament, the Greyhounds carried a program-record 14 game unbeaten streak.

A Long Branch, N.J., native, Ferraina leaves Loyola as one of the most decorated Greyhounds of all-time.  After playing in a program-record 83 games, including a season-record 23 this season, Ferraina is the third-leading scorer in program history with 65 points.  Her 25 goals are fourth all-time and her 15 assists are tied for sixth all-time. Along with Carolyn Kennington (’06), Ferraina is one of just two players ever at Loyola to record 25 goals and 15 assists.

Ferraina earned Academic All-District II First Team honors earlier this season, as well as the last two years, and has been named to the MAAC All-Academic Team the last three seasons.