GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Lila Dere has been bringing in honors for her performance on the field all season long. But thanks to her work in the classroom, Dere can now add another prestigious off-field honor to her resume.
Dere was named the RMAC Women's Soccer Academic Player of the Year on Monday by the conference office. It is the second consecutive year a Colorado Mesa Maverick has taken home the award. Last year's winner, defender
Michaela Dangler, was also named to the All-Academic First Team this season.
Dere, a redshirt sophomore forward from Grand Junction and Fruita Monument HS, holds a 3.73 grade-point average as a business entrepreneurship major at her hometown university. Her classroom success comes during a historic season of production on the pitch, as Dere leads Division II with 23 goals, 48 points, 117 shots and 61 shots on goal.
Dangler also scored a place on the All-Academic First Team after maintaining her perfect 4.0 GPA as an elementary education major. The senior appeared in 17 games for the Mavs this season, tallying a goal and an assist, and logged over 3,200 minutes in a decorated career that included an RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and RMAC Academic Player of the Year double in 2021. Dangler was one of six outgoing players honored as part of Senior Day on October 23.
Colorado Mesa is one of four RMAC institutions to put multiple players on the 13-player All-Academic team. Regis leads the way with four honorees. Dangler is one of five honorees with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Beyond the first team, the Mavericks had 15 players named to the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll -
Sophia Beames,
Stella Bohlender,
Madison DeHerrera,
Olivia Divine,
Chloe Dody,
Mikayla Eccher,
Bobbie Golik,
Mira Houck,
Haley Klasner,
Jacqueline Linn,
Carolyn Naftanel,
Tatum Pfalmer,
Olivia Pietro,
Addie Randel and
Chelsey Stock. Of particular note are DeHerrera, who has a 4.0 as a business management major, and Houck, who has a 4.0 as an elementary education major. Bohlender is on track to graduate this year with a 3.95 GPA in sport management.
Awards season continues with the announcement of the women's soccer All-Conference teams and special awards Tuesday at noon.
