Torstensson, Ester, Johansson, Smith, Buchholz honored by conference

Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team

RINDGE, N.H. (February 9, 2009) – Five Franklin Pierce University student-athletes have been selected to the Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team for the fall season, as announced on Feb. 6 by the conference office. Sophomore midfielder Johan Torstensson (Falkoping, Sweden) of the men’s soccer team; senior goalkeeper Brittany Ester (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East), sophomore forward Angelika Johansson (Falkenberg, Sweden) and junior defender Rachel Smith (Chichester, N.H./Bible Baptist (Pa.)) of the women’s soccer team; and senior middle hitter Nicole Buchholz (Broadlands, Va./Stone Bridge) of the volleyball team represented Franklin Pierce among the 75 student-athletes honored by the Northeast-10.

To be eligible for selection to the All-Academic Team, student-athletes were required to meet three requirements. Student-athletes must have participated in at least half of their team’s competitions as a starter or significant contributor, achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) and completed at least one academic year at their current institution. The All-Academic Team was chosen by a vote of Northeast-10 Conference Sports Information Directors.

Torstensson has posted a 3.91 grade-point average as a pre-medical major. He started 18 of 22 matches for Franklin Pierce in the fall and was an All-Northeast-10 Conference Third Team selection. Torstensson tallied three points on a goal and an assist during the campaign, while he anchored a defense which ranked fifth in the Northeast-10 by posting a 1.09 team goals-against average. In November, he earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team honors.

Ester currently carries a 3.86 grade-point average as a psychology major. She earned All-Northeast-10 Conference Third Team accolades while seeing a majority of the minutes in goal for the Ravens this fall. Ester tied for the Northeast-10 Conference lead with eight shutouts and also ranked fourth in the conference with a 0.99 goals-against average. She collected ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Third Team accolades in November.

Johansson sports a 3.97 grade-point average as a mathematics major. She led the nation in goals (29) and points (63) en route to Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year and Daktronics East Region Player of the Year honors. In addition, Johansson collected First-Team All-America accolades from both NSCAA/adidas and Daktronics, as well as selections to the All-East Region First Team and All-Northeast-10 Conference First Team. She was also selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team and Academic All-District First Team in November.

Smith has amassed a 3.80 grade-point average as a sports and recreation management major. She collected Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors this fall while anchoring a defensive unit which finished third in the conference with a 0.97 goals-against average and posted eight shutouts. Smith started all 21 matches for the Ravens and was a Second-Team NSCAA/adidas All-America and Third-Team Daktronics All-America selection, in addition to collecting First-Team All-East Region and First-Team All-Northeast-10 Conference accolades. She earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team honors in November.

Buchholz has put together a 3.41 grade-point average as a journalism major and English minor. She collected All-Northeast-10 Conference Second Team honors while finishing seventh in the conference with a .285 hitting percentage. Buchholz keyed a Franklin Pierce offense which finished fourth in the Northeast-10 in kills per set (11.50) and sixth in hitting percentage (.189).