Liberty midfielders Rachel DeRuby and Grace Spade, forwards Meredith King and Annie Slovak and goalkeeper Ainsley Leja are part of the 2022 College Sports Communicators Women’s Soccer Academic All-District team.

To earn inclusion on the team, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve, have played in at least 50% of her team’s games and has at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. In addition, a student-athlete must have completed one full calendar year at her current institution.

As a result of their inclusion on the academic all-district team, the five will now appear on the ballot for the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Women’s Soccer Team®. The first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in December.

DeRuby was named to the ASUN All-Conference team for the first time this season, garnering first-team honors. The junior midfielder, who started every game for the 14-3-4 Lady Flames, finished the year tied for the Liberty lead with six goals and was second on the team with 13 points. The Oneida, N.Y., native completed the season tied for fourth in the ASUN in goals and ninth in points. She also led the Lady Flames and was third in the conference with four game-winning goals.

DeRuby holds a 3.63 grade point average in business administration. She has earned inclusion on the ASUN Academic Honor Roll in the previous two academic years.

Spade posted career highs for goals, assists and points in 2022. The redshirt junior forward from Virginia Beach, Va., started all 21 Liberty games, scoring three goals and adding three assists for nine points this past fall.

Spade has posted a 3.84 grade point average in biomedical science. She is a three-time member of the ASUN Academic Honor Roll.

King started every Liberty game this past season. The junior forward scored a goal and had two assists for four points. The Virginia Beach, Va., native was named the 2021 Spring ASUN Freshman of the Year.

King holds a 3.69 grade point average in psychology. She has twice earned inclusion on the ASUN Academic Honor Roll.

Slovak saw action in all 21 Liberty games this season, starting one match. The junior forward scored two goals, including the first of her career in a win over ETSU on Aug. 21, in 2022.

Slovak has posted a 3.68 grade point average in interior design. The Lancaster, Pa. native has been a member of the ASUN Academic Honor Roll in each of the previous two academic years.

Leja was selected the 2022 ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year and to the 2022 ASUN All-Conference first team. The sophomore started every game for the Lady Flames this past season, ending the year with a .621 goals-against average and a .812 save percentage. She posted 10 shutouts, the second-most in program history.

The Rockford, Michigan native finished the year third in the ASUN and 28th nationally in goals-against average. She also ended the season 11th in the country in shutouts and goalie minutes played.

Leja holds a 3.82 grade point average in business finance. She was a member of the 2021-22 ASUN Academic Honor Roll.

(Photo Top of Page: Rachel DeRuby, Grace Spade, Meredith King, Annie Slovak and Ainsley Leja)