LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola junior defender Amy Atkinson has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 8 Women's Soccer College Division Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Friday.

Atkinson, who came to Biola via Mongmong, Guam, currently holds a 3.96 GPA in Liberal Studies and is the first women's soccer player from Biola to earn the all-district academic honors. The junior leads the Eagles in minutes played this season and is a huge part of Biola's defensive line.

To be nominated for all-district consideration, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for her career. No athlete is eligible until he has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing. District 8 college division covers all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia.

As a member of the district's first-team, Atkinson is now eligible to earn Academic All-America honors. Just three Biola athletes have ever earned CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, the last was volleyball's Meghan Warkentin in 2008. The 2009 Women's Soccer Academic All-American team will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17.