AUSTIN, Texas – With the announcement by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) of the 2019 Academic All-America® Division I women's soccer teams on Thursday, history was made for the Texas State. Senior goalkeeper Heather Martin was named to first team to become the first student-athlete in program history to make the top team.
 
"It is truly an honor to receive this award. Without my teammates and everyone involved in my academic and athletic career pushing me to be better every day, none of this would be possible," said Martin. "Thank you to all of you and to CoSIDA for allowing me this amazing opportunity."
 
It is the second straight year that the Midlothian, Texas native has been named to an Academic All-America® team after earning second team accolades in 2018. She is just the second-ever female Bobcat student-athlete (Kristen Zaleski, softball, 2003-04) to earn multiple Academic All-America® honors and the seventh all-time overall at TXST.
 
Martin's selection makes it three consecutive years that a Bobcat soccer student-athlete is an Academic All-American. Texas State is one of six schools to have at least one selection the past three years along with Alabama, Memphis, Navy, Penn State and Stanford.
 
"Heather is very deserving of being named to the Academic All-America First Team. She excels at everything she does," said head coach Kat Conner. "Her work ethic and competitive spirit are apparent both in the classroom and on the field. Heather epitomizes what I look for in a prospective soccer recruit and is a role model for her teammates and for future Bobcat soccer players."
 
Martin boasts a perfect 4.00 GPA and is majoring in psychology. She is a three-time Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List and Texas State Star of Excellence recipient. All six semesters Martin has been named to the Texas State Dean's List.
 
Back in early September, she received the Texas State University System Foundation Regents' Student Scholar Award. Regents' Scholars are selected by the chancellor based on outstanding academic achievement and scholarship, leadership abilities and contributions to the institution and their community.
 
This season on the pitch Martin started all 19 matches in goal and helped the Bobcats post a 9-7-3 record. Her 0.47 GAA and .893 save percentage, fifth highest in the nation, are both the second-best marks in a season in program history behind her record-setting 2018 campaign. She also posted seven shutouts and made 67 saves.
 
Martin concluded her Texas State career with a program record 0.73 GAA, .858 save percentage and nine draws. She is second in the Bobcat career record book for saves (279), wins (34), shutouts (22) and minutes played by a goalkeeper (5,636).
 
The senior was the only player from the Sun Belt Conference on one of the three teams. Martin is also one of only three female soccer players from the state of Texas on any of the NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA Academic All-America® teams.
 
The teams are voted on by members of CoSIDA and recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
 
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