THREE MEN’S SOCCER ATHLETES NAMED TO ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Juniors Joe Corsello and Robin Gerum (Kullavik, Sweden) and sophomore Brad Hilton (Merrimack, N.H.) have been selected to the America East 2009 Men's Soccer All-Academic Team, as announced by the conference this afternoon.

Corsello has played in all 17 games for the ‘Cats including 15 starts, tallying one assist, while posting nine shots. Corsello notched the assist off a corner kick, as he maneuvered a ball into the box, setting up Josh Bronner (Belchertown, Mass.) with a goal in the 23rd minute to propel the Wildcats to their third straight win in a 4-1 victory over Hartford on Oct. 15.

Offense aside, Corsello has been a defensive catalyst this year, as the Wildcats have posted a goals against average of 0.55 and three shutouts in America East play, both top honors within the conference.

Corsello was recently named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American first-team for District 1. He is an environmental engineering major, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.76 at UNH. He was named to the 2008 America East Commissioner's Honor Roll and was selected as a member of the 2007 America East Academic Honor Roll. In addition, he was also presented the H. Richard Sandler Award for academic achievement at the 2008 team banquet.

Gerum has played in 17 games for the ‘Cats, including 16 starts, tallying one goal and one assist, while posting six shots. Gerum scored his first goal of the season in dramatic fashion as it led to a 1-0 victory over the University of Vermont on Oct. 17.

Gerum, who was named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll last year, is a Business Administration major and has a 3.74 grade point average at UNH.  

As for Hilton, he has started in all 17 games for the Wildcats this season, tallying three assists and posting 14 shots. Two of his three assists came in wins against Bryant on Sept. 26 (2-0) and Hartford on Oct. 14 (4-1). His other tally came against Fairfield, when the midfielder set up Charlie Roche (Haverhill, Mass.) with his first collegiate goal on Sept. 30.

Hilton is a Business Administration major and has a 3.37 grade point average at UNH. Last season he was selected to the America East All-Rookie Team and was named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll.

All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time (e.g., 11 on the field for soccer). To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration.

Corsello, Gerum, Hilton and the top-seeded Wildcats return to action on Wednesday, November 11 (1 p.m.) at Lewis Fields, when they compete in the America East tournament for the fifth time in the last seven years, as they host a semifinal matchup against No. 5 UMBC.