Jan. 30, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB women's soccer player Jill Porto has earned a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Scholar All-America Second Team. This marks Porto's second NSCAA honor this season, having previously been named to the All-Southeast Region Second Team.

Porto, a standout on the field and in the classroom at UAB, was selected among 33 of the nation's best that were honored on the NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-America first, second and third teams.

To be eligible for the prestigious honor, an athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or better and be a junior or senior. From there, those that meet the criteria are evaluated on their athletic and academic achievements by a national selection committee.

"Being selected to the NSCAA's Scholar All-America team is the ultimate honor in women's collegiate soccer," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "Jill has achieved at the highest level on the field and in the classroom and is continuing the elite tradition of Scholar All-America selections here at UAB.

"We are very proud of her accomplishments and excited that she has been recognized in this way by the NSCAA."

Porto was a four-year starter for the Blazers, racking up four goals, two assists and 10 points, while leading C-USA in shots per game with 3.68 as a senior in 2007. All four of her goals, and nine of her 10 points, came against league opponents this past year.

Porto etched her name in the Blazer record books by setting a new school record for shots with 260 career shots taken. She also tied for fourth in both goals (25) and game-winning goals (7) and ranks ninth in points (60).

The Woodbridge, Va. native has received numerous honors throughout her career, including most recently being named the Co-MVP of the 2007 UAB women's soccer team at the squad's annual banquet last week. A first-team All-Conference USA selection as a senior, she has been named to four all-region teams, three all-conference teams and one SoccerAmerica National Team of the Week during her career.

Porto and Harbin both attended the NSCAA All-America Luncheon on Jan. 19 as part of the NSCAA convention in Baltimore, Md.