Nov. 3, 2005

Champaign, Ill. - Senior defender Christen Karniski (Iowa City, Iowa/West) and senior forward Natasha Karniski (Iowa City, Iowa) were both named to the CoSIDA ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District First Team for District 5. By being named to the district first team, the Karniskis advance to consideration for Academic All-America honors, where they will try to become Illinois soccer's first CoSIDA Academic All-American in the program's history.

The award is voted on by the sports information directors of the district, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, and Manitoba. The All-America team will be announced Nov. 22.

Christen has played every minute of every game so far for the Illini this season, the only Illinois player to do so. The English major has one goal and four assists, two on game-winning goals. She is an anchor in the Illini backfield, starring from her left back position with her defensive prowess and runs into the attacking third. Karniski was recently named the co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was Illinois' Big Ten sportsmanship honoree. This is Christen's third consecutive selection to the Academic All-District team.

Natasha has turned into a goal-scoring threat this season for the Illini, racking up five goals in only 13 shots on goal. The integrative biology major has played in all 18 games, starting 15. She scored the game-winning goal in Illinois' 1-0 win over No. 17 Nebraska on Sept. 2, and scored against Western Illinois in the Illini's next game. This is Natasha's second straight selection to the Academic All-District first team.