RUSTON –Louisiana Tech women's soccer saw five student-athletes recognized this week for showcasing their excellence on the pitch and in the classroom. Mary Helen Burford, Maeva Costenaro, Madeline Gray, Ashley Leonhart and Annie Meador were named to the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District team Tuesday morning.
 
Criteria to be named to the CSC's Academic All-District team lists that a student-athlete must have a 3.50 cumulative GPA and graduate student-athletes must meet the same requirement after their first semester of grad school. Eligible student-athletes are also required to be at least a sophomore and have competed in 90 percent of matches or start in 66 percent of matches.
 
Burford is a perfect 4.0 student as a double major in psychology and biology, as well as a minor in chemistry. The Shreveport native was one of three Bulldogs to start in all 19 matches and one of two to record 1,600 minutes on the pitch this season. She was named Conference USA's Defender of the Week on October 14 following a 2-1 comeback road victory at New Mexico State and received All-CUSA Third Team and All-Acdemic honors at the end of the year.
 
 Costenaro boasts a 3.9 GPA as a business administration major. The sophomore midfielder appeared in every match for Tech with starts in 17 matches, and recorded her first career assist in the season opener against Alabama. Through two seasons, she as appeared in every Tech game with over 2,000 career minutes. The Montreal, Quèbec native was named to the CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll and received the Commissioner's Academic Medal.
 
Gray holds a 3.5 GPA as an exercise & health science major following the fall quarter of her sophomore year. The Corinth, Mississippi native made 17 appearances with four starts in 2025. She saw a season-high 82 minutes against Alabama and scored her first career goal and game-winner in the CUSA opener against UTEP.
 
Leonhart also bears a perfect 4.0 as a modern languages major in her academic senior year. The forward led the Bulldogs with three assists, 37 shots and 16 in frame and the second-most total points on the team with five. The Arizona State transfer appeared in every match for Tech with 14 starts, listed as one of eight players to post over 1,200 minutes.
 
Meador is a kinesiology and health science major with a 3.6 GPA as an academic sophomore. The Denton, Texas appeared in every match as a substitute, putting four of her 10 shots on target and over 540 minutes played. She saw three appearances with multiple attempts including a career-high three shots taken against Western Kentucky.
 
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