Nine Knights Shatter Records: You Won't Believe Who Made the CSC Academic All-District Soccer List!

In a remarkable achievement, nine members of the Clarkson University Men's and Women's Soccer teams have been recognized for their exceptional performance both on the field and in the classroom. The 2025 College Sports Communicator Academic All-District Soccer teams were announced on Tuesday, showcasing the nation's top student-athletes who excel in athletics while maintaining strong academic standards.

The Academic All-District® Soccer Teams honor those who have achieved a minimum 3.50 grade-point average and hold at least sophomore athletic and academic standing. Nominees also must have participated in at least 90% of their team's competitions or started 66% of the games. This recognition highlights the balance that student-athletes must strike between rigorous academic commitments and competitive sports.

From the women's soccer team, six players were honored: Paige Ford (senior), Callie Abel (junior), Riley Irvin (junior), Rachael Matthews (sophomore), Isabelle Wood (sophomore), and Aurora Zary (sophomore). On the men's soccer team, three players were recognized: Kyle Otis (senior), Tayte Wong (senior), and Paul Rolland (sophomore). Notably, Ford, Abel, and Otis were also named to the CSC Academic All-District list last year.

Each athlete's academic and athletic journey is impressive. Callie Abel, a Chemical Engineering major, made a strong impact on the field by starting 11 games before an injury sidelined her for the remainder of the season. Remarkably, she played full time in 10 of those games, logging only 52 minutes off the pitch.

Paige Ford, majoring in Engineering and Management, demonstrated resilience after missing the end of her junior year due to injury. She returned to play 1,065 minutes in her senior season, ranking second on the team with nine points and four goals over 15 games.

Riley Irvin, also a Chemical Engineering major, contributed significantly to the team's defense, ranking second in minutes played with 1,291, participating fully in 14 out of 15 contests in her junior year.

Rachael Matthews, another Engineering and Management major, led the team in minutes with an impressive 1,330, only stepping off the field for 20 minutes in one game.

Isabelle Wood, a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry, served as the starting goalkeeper, playing in 11 games and achieving a 1.91 goals-against average. Meanwhile, Aurora Zary, a sophomore Civil Engineering major, participated in 14 games, contributing a goal and an assist over 613 minutes of play.

On the men's side, Kyle Otis, a Software Engineering major, has been a consistent performer during his four seasons at Clarkson, being named a Liberty League All-Star in his junior year. He accumulated 1,264 minutes on the field during the fall of 2025, ranking second among field players.

Paul Rolland, majoring in Mechanical Engineering, had an outstanding season, leading his team with 11 points, four goals, and 19 shots, including 12 shots on goal. His performance earned him a spot on the Liberty League Second-Team All-Star list.

Lastly, Tayte Wong, an Applied Mathematics and Statistics major, returned strong after an injury that sidelined him for most of last season. He logged over 1,000 minutes on the pitch in 2025 and was recognized as a Liberty League All-Star again.

This recognition not only reflects the individual excellence of these athletes but also emphasizes the commitment Clarkson University places on maintaining a balance between academics and athletics. As they move forward in their careers, whether in sports or their respective fields of study, these student-athletes are setting a high standard for future generations of student-athletes at Clarkson and beyond.