TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Junior midfielder Emma Welch was named to the 2017 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America Women's Soccer Third Team, as announced by the association on Thursday. Welch is the Crimson Tide's first Academic All-American since Merel van Dongen (First Team) and Laura Lee Smith (Second Team) in 2014 and is the seventh Alabama soccer player to earn the accolade.

The University Scholar is in the Accelerated Master's Program at the Capstone, where she is pursuing her undergraduate and graduate degree simultaneously, and owns a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in both.

On the pitch, Welch has led the Crimson Tide to its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a leader in the midfield. The second team All-SEC honoree led the team in assists and tied for fourth in the SEC, while tying for 43rd in the nation in the same category. The three-time President's list recipient has also been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll after her freshman and sophomore campaigns.

The McDonough, Ga., native was named to the All-District team on Nov. 9, which put her on the ballot for the national team.

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