Hailey Beam, Lauren Olson Named NSCAA/Adidas Scholar Americans

Beam garners first-team honors; Olson earns second-team distinction

Lauren Olson, Saint Louis

Jan. 7, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Charlotte junior midfielder Hailey Beam, the 2008 Atlantic 10 women's soccer Midfielder and Student-Athlete of the Year, has named a first-team NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American. In addition, Saint Louis senior Lauren Olson was named to the second-team.

Beam played integral roles in helping the 49ers win their third straight A-10 regular-season title and their second straight A-10 Tournament title to go along with the program's fourth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Charlotte, which finished the season nationally-ranked, reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a school-record 18 wins.

She also earned second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honors this season as well. For her performance on the field, she was named a third-team NSCAA and TopDrawerSoccer.com All-American.

Beam boasts a 3.87 GPA as a finance major. She was tabbed the Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 Championship for the second straight season. The Cornelius, N.C., native, led the A-10 and ranked among the nation's leaders with 17 goals, 13 assists and 47 points. Her 17 goals and 47 points are the third highest single-season totals in school history. Her 13 assists is tied for the second highest single-season total in school history.

Olson was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference first-team, the 2008 A-10 All-Championship team and the Toys For Tots All-Tournament squad. In the classroom, Olson earned A-10 Academic All-Conference and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District 7 first-team plaudits for the second consecutive year and went on to garner a spot on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second-team.

An NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region third-team honoree, Olson was one of two players to start all 21 games for the Billikens (11-6-4) this season, playing all but 13 minutes. She anchored a defense that led the A-10 in goals against average (0.78), allowing only 17 goals in 21 contests, and finished second with 10 shutouts, including six in league play.

The Plano, Texas, resident also played a key offensive role for the Bills, ranking third on the team in goals (three) and points (six). Two of her goals were game-winning tallies. Additionally, she cracked SLU's career top-10 lists in games started (80, tied for fourth) and games played (81, tied for sixth).