Pair Chosen by Regional Sports Information Directors

Bryan Olson

Keith Kirsch

SPOKANE, Wash. - Bryan Olson and Keith Kirsch have been recognized by regional college sports information directors for excellence on the field and in the classroom and have been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII College Division men's soccer team.

The Academic All-District VIII teams are selected from NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players throughout the western United States. The players are nominated and selected by members of CoSIDA. To be eligible for nomination, a player must be a starter or important reserve with a 3.30 cumulative grade point average and of sophomore standing.

Olson (Sr., D, Missoula, Mont. / Sentinel) is making his second consecutive appearance on the team. He is a mathematical economics and computer science double major with a grade point average of 3.86. As a center back in the Pirate defense, he has led the team in minutes played each of his four seasons. He is a key reason that Whitworth has posted a 0.82 goals-against average this season and has allowed the second-fewest shots in the Northwest Conference this season.

Kirsch (Sr., F, Colbert, Wash. / Mt. Spokane) is on the team for the first time in his first year of eligibility after transferring to Whitworth from Spokane Falls CC in the fall of 2007. He is a business management major with a 3.77 GPA. He has scored three goals and assisted on two others this season. Two of his goals have been match-winners in overtime.

Whitworth is now 10-2-3 overall and 8-1-2 in the NWC. The Pirates are tied with Pacific University for first place in the conference standings.

Both players are now eligible to be selected to the ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-America college division team.