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The 2016 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® Women's Soccer Team were announced today, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.  Among those honored was Fordham senior defender Nicole Bates (Basking Ridge, N.J.), who received Third Team honors.
 
Bates' selection marks the second straight season that Fordham women's soccer has had an Academic All-America® selection, as Jessica Widmann earned Third Team Academic All-America® honors last season.  She is also the third Fordham women's soccer student-athlete ever to be named to the Academic All-America® Team (Leah Jerome – 2006, Widmann – 2015).
 
An Applied Accounting & Finance major, Bates is a three-year member of the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team the last two seasons.  A 2016 tri-captain and a preseason All-Atlantic 10 selection, Bates was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection this season, after earning Second Team honors a year ago.  She helped anchor the Rams' defense to a 0.94 goals against average and eight shutouts this season, which both rank as the third-best single season totals in school history.  The Rams allowed one goal or less in 15 of 20 games this season.  Offensively, Bates netted a career-high three goals, including two game winners.
 
Bates played in every game over the last four seasons, starting 73 of 77 games, which is fourth all-time at Fordham.