Caldwell High Grad Enjoys Playing Close to Home

Eliza Urciuoli has always been focused—as a dedicated student, soccer player and leader.

Urciuoli's efforts in the classroom recently earned her a distinction as one of 26 Caldwell College athletes recognized with the Academic Achievement Award, presented by the NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association.

"I'm excited about it," said Urciuoli, who is a history and criminal justice major and hopes to attend law school. "It's nice to be recognized. It's a challenge to do well on the field and in the classroom at the same time. It's hard work, but I'm really happy about it."

The 2005 James Caldwell High School grad played one year at Montclair State University before she transfered to Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., when her father's job was relocated.

After two years at the school, Urciuoli returned to New Jersey. While her family has moved to Whippany to help her grandmother, Urciuoli has enjoyed attending college in the town she grew up.

"It's really nice to play so close to home, it's pretty much down the road,'' said Urciuoli, who is one of six in her family. "It's great that I'm familiar with the town. I just commute and just go home after a game.''

Urciuoli, 23, a senior center midfielder who has also been working out as a defender and started 11 of 15 games last season, was recognized for a second time for her academic performance.

Student-athletes must earn at least a 3.5 grade-point average, have completed at least two years of college-level courses and have participated in an intercollegiate sport during the past year to be considered for the award.

Caldwell College was one of 92 institutions that took part in the 2009-2010 awards program, which recognized 3,022 Division II athletes nationwide.

Urciuoli's recognition came as no surprise to Mike Teshkoyan, her former coach at JCHS who called her "the most respected of teammates that I've ever coached."

"Not only is she hard-working and an excellent teammate, but she's a really good leader," Teshkoyan said. "She has been in contact with me and I've given her ideas about team bonding. She was thinking about what she wanted to do as a leader.

"She loves the game of soccer. She followed the World Cup when she was in high school, taped every game and had team parties to watch the game. Her lifelong dream was to play at the next level. I'm very proud of her."

Caldwell College, which finished 6-11-1 last year, opens the season at Queens College on Sept. 8.