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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Four members of the defending NCAA Division II national champion Fort Lewis College men's soccer team earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic accolades, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Eric Danner announced today.

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Nate Bell was named to the RMAC All-Academic first team, while senior defender Jamie Cunningham and junior defender Berekk Blackwell received second team honors. Sophomore defender R.J. Parke earned RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll distinction.

“All four of them are very talented student-athletes who obviously do their work in the classroom, but contribute on the field as well,” said second-year head coach Oige Kennedy.

Bell, who carries a 3.90 GPA and majors in exercise science, graduated from Sentinel High School in Missoula, Mont.

“Nate, who worked very hard last year when he redshirted, got his award this year with some playing time,” said Kennedy. “There will be more playing time for him in the future, whether it's this season or next.”

Cunningham, who maintains a 3.36 GPA in business administration-agricultural business option, graduated from Pinnacle High School in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“Jamie is a three-time member of the academic all-conference team and a [2009 second team] Daktronics All-American as well,” said Kennedy. “To be able to combine the level of soccer he plays with his success in the classroom means he has a great future ahead of him in whatever he chooses to do in life.”

Blackwell, who has a 3.73 GPA in business administration, graduated from Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“Berekk is obviously doing very well this year and has really shown improvement on the field the past couple of seasons,” said Kennedy.

Parke, who maintains a 3.68 GPA in biology, graduated from Durango High School.

“R.J. is somebody who, as a coach, I've never had to worry about,” said Kennedy. “He has always done the work on and off the field. He's worth his weight in gold.”

To qualify for Academic All-RMAC, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.30 or better, be a starter or reserve, and completed two consecutive semesters or three quarters at their current institution. The student-athlete's cumulative GPA is what they had earned prior to soccer season beginning. RMAC sports information directors at schools that sponsor the sport of women's soccer selected first and second teams.

Fort Lewis, ranked No. 25 in the latest NSCAA/HendrickCars.com NCAA Division II rankings after a three-week absence, concludes its five-game homestand when it hosts Mesa State (6-5-2, 2-5-2) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dirks Field. Then it's off to Denver for a pair of games against two nationally-ranked foes: No. 11 Metro State (8-2-2, 5-1-2) at 3:30 p.m. Friday and No. 16 Regis (8-1-2, 4-1-2) at 1 p.m. Sunday.