Nov. 21, 2006

ST. LOUIS - For the second year in a row, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) has named Saint Louis seniors Courtney Hulcer and John DiRaimondo to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America soccer teams. Hulcer earned a spot on the first team, while DiRaimondo was named to the second team. The duo was previously named to the All-District-VII first team, making them eligible for All-America status.

Hulcer, an elementary education major, was named the Atlantic 10 Conference women's soccer Student-Athlete of the Year to go along with her second-straight A-10 Defensive Player of the Year honor. An ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American last season, Hulcer switched to sweeper during a 2-0 shutout at then-A-10 leader Dayton midway through the conference schedule. The Billikens' defense led the league with nine shutouts en route to the A-10 Tournament championship and a second trip to the NCAA Tournament second round. Hulcer also added 13 points (4G, 5A) to the offensive effort and ended her career as SLU's career record holder with 37 assists.

DiRaimondo, an accounting major, was tabbed the 2006 A-10 men's soccer Student-Athlete of the Year as well as first-team All-Conference. A Hermann Trophy semifinalist for the second straight season, he led the Billikens to the NCAA Tournament with 15 points (5G, 5A) and a league-high four game winners. DiRaimondo, who was an ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-American in 2005, enjoyed his best game of the year against preseason-No. 2 UConn when he scored two goals, including the game winner, and added two assists. His 28 career assists ranks tied for sixth on SLU's all-time chart, and he is the first Billiken since Matt McKeon (1994-'95) to lead the team in points in consecutive seasons.