LA JOLLA, Calif. - Sara Spaventa, a sophomore defender on the UC San Diego women's soccer team, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team, CoSIDA announced Monday.

A Santa Barbara native, Spaventa has started in each of UCSD's 19 matches so far in 2009 and has bolstered a defense that has allowed a conference-best 12 goals. She tallied her first-career score on Oct. 19 in a road match with Cal State L.A. In 2008 Spaventa earned the starting nod in 21 of the Tritons' 23 contests.

Academically, Spaventa has amassed a grade-point average of 3.88 while majoring in Psychology at Muir College.

To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.20 cumulative GPA and starter or significant reserve for her team.

The Tritons carry an overall record of 14-5 into the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships, which get underway in Turlock Friday at 11 a.m. when UCSD takes on Cal State Dominguez Hills.