Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Five Men's Soccer Student-Athletes Earn CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team Recognition
11/7/2019 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Daniel Espeleta, Bryce Gibson, Luke Haakenson, Connor Ramlo and Collin Valdivia each earned First Team All-District honors
OMAHA, Neb. -- The Creighton men's soccer team had five players listed on the CoSIDAÂ Academic All-District 7 First Team, the organization announced on Thursday morning.
Seniors Bryce Gibson, Luke Haakenson, Connor Ramlo, and Collin Valdivia, as well as sophomore Daniel Espeleta, each earned Academic All-District honors for the first time.
The Bluejays' five honorees are the most for a single team in Division I this season, and the most by the Creighton men's soccer program in a single year. The previous high was four in 2011 and 2004.Â
All five Bluejays advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early December.
The 2019 Academic All-District Men's Soccer Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Gibson, a fifth-year senior defender, owns a 3.52 GPA while studying biochemistry. The Lee's Summit, Missouri native has started 12 matches this season and owns one assist during over 1,100 minutes of action. Gibson plans to enroll in medical school following the completion of his undergraduate studies.
Haakenson, a financial services and marketing major, claims a 3.69 cumulative GPA. The senior midfielder ranks second on the team with five goals and paces the Bluejays with three game winners. Haakenson is the only Creighton player to start each match this season.
Ramlo boasts a 3.98 GPA in finance. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native owns 10 appearances in 2019, including nine starts. The fifth-year senior defender plans to attend law school after the completion of his undergraduate studies.
Valdivia completed his undergraduate studies with a double major in business intelligence and analytics and marketing, while claiming a 3.77 GPA. The fifth-year senior goalkeeper has started seven matches this season and owns a 1.24 goals against average, including two shutouts, both in BIG EAST play. Valdivia is currently completing course work for his master of business administration from the Creighton University Heider College of Business.
Espeleta owns a 3.65 GPA while studying neuroscience. The sophomore midfielder has two goals this season for the Bluejays. Espeleta, a San Jose, Costa Rica native, is one of five Creighton players to start at least 15 matches during the 2019 campaign.
Creighton begins postseason play on Saturday night at Morrison Stadium against Butler during the First Round of the BIG EAST Championship, presented by Jeep. First touch between the Bluejays and Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NCAA DIVISION I – DISTRICT 7 (CO, ID, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
GK Collin Valdivia Creighton University 3.77 Gr. BIA (U) / MBA (G)
D Ryan Alpers The University of Tulsa 3.64 Jr. Biology
D Bryce Gibson Creighton University 3.52 Sr. Biochemistry
D Connor Ramlo Creighton University 3.98 Sr. Finance
D Stevie Siy University of Nebraska Omaha 3.75 Jr. Cybersecurity
M Daniel Espeleta Creighton University 3.65 So. Neuroscience
M Ed Gordon University of Nebraska Omaha 3.82 Jr. Business Administration
M Angel Lopez The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 3.42 Sr. Management
M Martin Veys University of Nebraska Omaha 3.82 So. Business Administration
F Dante Brigida Oral Roberts University 3.46 Jr. Sports Management
F Luke Haakenson Creighton University 3.69 Sr. Financial Services & Marketing
F Adam Habib The University of Tulsa 3.73 Jr. Management
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Seniors Bryce Gibson, Luke Haakenson, Connor Ramlo, and Collin Valdivia, as well as sophomore Daniel Espeleta, each earned Academic All-District honors for the first time.
The Bluejays' five honorees are the most for a single team in Division I this season, and the most by the Creighton men's soccer program in a single year. The previous high was four in 2011 and 2004.Â
All five Bluejays advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early December.
The 2019 Academic All-District Men's Soccer Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Gibson, a fifth-year senior defender, owns a 3.52 GPA while studying biochemistry. The Lee's Summit, Missouri native has started 12 matches this season and owns one assist during over 1,100 minutes of action. Gibson plans to enroll in medical school following the completion of his undergraduate studies.
Haakenson, a financial services and marketing major, claims a 3.69 cumulative GPA. The senior midfielder ranks second on the team with five goals and paces the Bluejays with three game winners. Haakenson is the only Creighton player to start each match this season.
Ramlo boasts a 3.98 GPA in finance. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native owns 10 appearances in 2019, including nine starts. The fifth-year senior defender plans to attend law school after the completion of his undergraduate studies.
Valdivia completed his undergraduate studies with a double major in business intelligence and analytics and marketing, while claiming a 3.77 GPA. The fifth-year senior goalkeeper has started seven matches this season and owns a 1.24 goals against average, including two shutouts, both in BIG EAST play. Valdivia is currently completing course work for his master of business administration from the Creighton University Heider College of Business.
Espeleta owns a 3.65 GPA while studying neuroscience. The sophomore midfielder has two goals this season for the Bluejays. Espeleta, a San Jose, Costa Rica native, is one of five Creighton players to start at least 15 matches during the 2019 campaign.
Creighton begins postseason play on Saturday night at Morrison Stadium against Butler during the First Round of the BIG EAST Championship, presented by Jeep. First touch between the Bluejays and Bulldogs is scheduled for 7 p.m.
NCAA DIVISION I – DISTRICT 7 (CO, ID, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX)
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School GPA Yr. Major
GK Collin Valdivia Creighton University 3.77 Gr. BIA (U) / MBA (G)
D Ryan Alpers The University of Tulsa 3.64 Jr. Biology
D Bryce Gibson Creighton University 3.52 Sr. Biochemistry
D Connor Ramlo Creighton University 3.98 Sr. Finance
D Stevie Siy University of Nebraska Omaha 3.75 Jr. Cybersecurity
M Daniel Espeleta Creighton University 3.65 So. Neuroscience
M Ed Gordon University of Nebraska Omaha 3.82 Jr. Business Administration
M Angel Lopez The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 3.42 Sr. Management
M Martin Veys University of Nebraska Omaha 3.82 So. Business Administration
F Dante Brigida Oral Roberts University 3.46 Jr. Sports Management
F Luke Haakenson Creighton University 3.69 Sr. Financial Services & Marketing
F Adam Habib The University of Tulsa 3.73 Jr. Management
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Players Mentioned
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