UAlbany Women Lacrosse's Olivia Jarem & Nikki Branchini on Women's At-Large District I All-Academic Squad

Providence, R.I. - University at Albany's Olivia Jarem has been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Women's At-Large All-District I Academic Team, as chosen by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Jarem, a senior midfielder on the women's lacrosse team, will move on to the national ballot and that all-academic squad will be announced on Thursday, June 10. UAlbany's Nikki Branchini earned second-team District I all-academic recognition.

Jarem has a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in psychology with a minor in education. She recently received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, one of 13 females honored nationwide, and plans to study sports psychology in graduate school. Jarem was the recipient of UAlbany's Presidential Scholar-Athlete Award as the school's top senior female student-athlete and the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.

Jarem totaled 31 goals and four assists for the nation's second-ranked scoring offense. The Clifton Park, N.Y. native, is 10th among the conference leaders in goals. She led the Great Danes to their first-ever top-20 national ranking, a school-record 13-3 campaign and the program's first America East Conference regular-season title. Jarem netted two or more goals in 11 contests and posted a .534 shot percentage.

Branchini, a junior defensive midfielder from Guilderland, N.Y., has a 3.81 cumulative GPA in history with a dual minor in education and criminal justice. She joined Jarem on the America East Conference All-Academic Lacrosse Team and received the Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award, one of five UAlbany student-athletes chosen.

Branchini, who was named the 2010 America East Conference Player of the Year, made her third consecutive appearance on the all-conference first team. She is among the NCAA Division I leaders in draw controls (2nd, 4.93 pg), ground balls (6th, 3.27 pg) and caused turnovers (9th, 2.07 pg). She added 10 goals and three assists.

District I encompasses the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, plus parts of Canada.



Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information