Air Force Academy

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Jan. 9, 2003

Eight players of the Air Force soccer team earned academic all-conference honors for the 2002 season by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Falcons had more recipients than any of the other six teams in the conference.

David Auston, Casey Chronister, Paul Gagliardi, Joe Gustafson, Noah Merica-Jones, David Milodragovich, Mike Taylor and Dan Walsh were all recognized for academic excellence. Gagliardi, Merica-Jones and Walsh are repeat selections.

Auston, a senior midfielder from Littleton, Colo., earned a 3.56 GPA. He appeared in all 19 games, scoring three goals, including one penalty-kick. Auston is majoring in astronautical engineering.

Chronister played in 15 games this season, starting 14 of them. The junior defender from Yakima, Wash., earned a 3.75 GPA and finished the season with one goal and one assist. Chronister, who is majoring in mechanical engineering, was named the outstanding defensive player for the season-opening Falcon Invitational.

Gagliardi, a senior forward from Colorado Springs, earned a 3.31 GPA, majoring in engineering mechanics. He was fifth on the team in scoring with nine points on four goals and one assist in 2002.

Gustafson is a sophomore defender from Fort Collins, Colo., who played in 18 of the team's 19 games and played solid defense the entire year. He started six games and took three shots. Gustafson has a 3.35 GPA.

Merica-Jones, a senior defender from Jamul, Calif., earned a 3.57 GPA. He played in only nine games this season due to injury. Merica-Jones, one of this year's team captains, is majoring in management.

Milodragovich, a sophomore defender from Great Falls, Mont., attempted 13 shots in 2002 while appearing in 15 games. He has a 3.43 GPA majoring in aeronautical engineering.

Taylor was the team's goaltender in 2002, and finished the season with a 1.84 goals-against average. The senior from Arvada, Colo., has a 3.81 GPA majoring in mechanical engineering. He was one of the team's three captains this year.

Walsh, a junior forward from Colorado Springs, earned a 3.25 GPA. Walsh finished sixth on the team in scoring, notching four goals and adding an assist for nine points. He is majoring in behavioral sciences.

The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation recognizes student-athletes for their academic excellence in the classroom, as well as their individual accomplishments in intercollegiate athletics for the 2001 season. Qualifying student-athletes must possess a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better; must be at least a sophomore academically; must have completed at least one full academic year at the institution they are currently competing at; and must have participated in 50 percent or more of their institution's competition in their particular sport.