News Release

Viscomi is Fourth Wheaton Underclassman to Draw All-America Accolades

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College women's soccer sophomore Alessia Viscomi (Newton, MA/Newton North) became the program's fourth underclassman selected to a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas NCAA Division III All-America team. Voted to the second team as a back, Viscomi was one of only five New England players among the 34 tabbed to the three All-America squads.

Viscomi helped the Lyons extend their streak of players earning All-America laurels to 10 years. Her selection also marked the seventh consecutive year the Blue and White placed one defensive player on a team. Viscomi joins Alison Bimba '03, Tracy Prihoda '04 and Erin Duffy '05 as the only Wheaton underclassmen to pick up an All-America award.

As one of only 10 backs from around the country named to an All-America team, Viscomi was the lone defender from a New England school to receive attention and the only New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) player to draw an honor.

A strong defensive presence, Viscomi helped anchor a backfield that blanked teams 13 times while holding opponents to one goal or fewer on 18 occasions. One of two Lyons to start a team-high 23 games, Viscomi pushed Wheaton to its 10th straight NEWMAC Tournament title game thanks to scoring the lone goal in a win over Clark University in the semifinal round. She also assisted a tally during a shutout victory against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), helping lead the Lyons to at least a share of the league's regular season title for the 10th consecutive season.

Selected to NSCAA All-New England and NEWMAC All-Conference teams each of her first two years, Viscomi has started in 45 of the 46 games in which she played. Since her arrival, Wheaton has gone 38-7-3, including 16-1-1 in league play. The Lyons also competed in two NCAA Tournaments, had a hand in two NEWMAC regular season crowns and won one league tourney title.

Wheaton finished the year with a 16-6-2 record, going 7-1-1 in the NEWMAC, while qualifying for its ninth straight NCAA Tournament. The Lyons tied Springfield College for the league's regular season championship and was ranked sixth in the NSCAA's final regional poll.

The NSCAA/adidas All-America teams are determined through voting by NSCAA member coaches. The honorees will be invited to the NSCAA All-America luncheon, which will be held on Saturday, January 17, as part of the 62nd annual NSCAA convention in Saint Louis.

Submitted 2008-12-12 11:55:22 by Wheaton College-MA Sports Information Department

Comments: