May 28, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Junior designated player Mary Beth Puccio of Fordham was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first-team in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Three A-10 softball players earned academic honors as senior catcher Laura Matthews of Dayton and St. Bonaventure senior infielder Brianna Bricker were both named to the second-team.

Puccio, an honorable mention All-Atlantic 10 selection this spring, enjoyed one of the most improved seasons in the A-10. She hit .347 (68-196) on the year, second best on the squad, after batting .225 a year ago. She has recorded 14 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 45 RBI in 65 games. Puccio, who set career-highs in every offensive category, tied for the team lead in doubles and triples while placing second in RBI and third in home runs. She had a team-best 20 multiple-hit games this year, including seven three-hit games, along with 13 multiple-RBI games, tying for the team-high. The junior finished the year with a 3.58 GPA in accounting.

Matthews enjoyed a banner year posting career highs in hits (44) and runs batted in (16). Defensively, she committed just one error from the catcher's position and threw out a career-best 16 runners. Thanks to Matthews' efforts the Flyers achieved their first 20-win season in three years. She graduated in May with a degree in Sport Management, completed her undergraduate work with a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average and was a member of the Dean's List for eight consecutive semesters.

Bricker, the 2008 A-10 Student-Athlete of the year, led the Bonnies in nearly every offensive category this season by matching a career-best .324 clip at the plate, while pacing the team in runs (30), hits (47), home runs (6) stolen bases (5), slugging percentage (.510) and on-base percentage (.361). She also finished third on the club with 18 runs batted in. After six home runs on the season, Bricker vaulted into the number one spot on the school's all-time home run chart with 23 career yard balls. She also holds top 10 program marks in hits (133/4th), doubles (19/10th), RBI (60/t-6th), runs scored (80/4th) and games played (144/10th).

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.