RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- Senior midfielder Sarah Peternel (Wolfeboro, NH/Virtual Learning Academy Charter School/University of New Hampshire) of the Shepherd University women's soccer team has been named to the 2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Women's Soccer All-America Team. Peternel, a third team choice, is the first player in program history to garner All-American accolades.

Peternel has appeared and started in 23 games for the Rams. She recorded 10 goals and four assists for 24 points. Her five game-winning goals tie Lydia Gable for the team lead. Her five game-winning goals are also a Shepherd single-season record. She was named 2024 PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after recording four goals and two assists in the tourney. She scored the game-winning goals in the opening game against Bloomsburg and in the finals against Kutztown.

Sports information directors from NCAA Division II schools and conferences selected the three All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first-team all-region picks advancing to the national ballot. A total of 39 student-athletes representing 30 different institutions filled out the three teams. 

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies, and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and work closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

The complete D2CCA All-America Team is shown below.
 
2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association Women's Soccer All-America First Team
Pos. Name School Year Hometown
F Andrea Fernandez Flagler College Sr. Pozoblanco, Spain
F Reese McDermott Colorado School of Mines Sr. Houston, Texas
F Anna Stiffler McKendree Sr. O'Fallon, Mo.
F Kristina Syragakis Francis Marion Jr. Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada
MF Grace Emanuel Gannon Sr. Erie, Pa
MF Anna Grossheim UNC Pembroke Sr. Garner, N.C.
MF Lina Jaime Charleston Sr. Bogota, Colombia
MF Brooke Pietila Northern Michigan Sr. Brighton, Michigan
D Ava Harman Colorado School of Mines Sr. Vancouver, Wash.
D Hannah Kastamo Northern Michigan Jr. Hartland, Michigan
D Aino Martikainen Franklin Pierce Sr. Jarvenpaa, Finland
D Lucy Weninger Minnesota State Sr. Ames, Iowa
GK Chiara Coppin Lees-McRae College Sr. Monroe, North Carolina
2024 Ron Lenz National Player of the Year: Andrea Fernandez, F, Sr., Flagler College, Pozoblanco, Spain

2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association Women's Soccer All-America Second Team
Pos. Name School Year Hometown
F Bella Campos Colorado School of Mines So. Highland Village, Texas
F Carrie Consolino Clayton State Jr. Peachtree City, Ga. F Dani Hicks Ashland Jr. Lebanon, Ohio
 F Chelsea Lavezzo Georgian Court Fr. Jackson, NJ
MF Vanessa Aviles Columbus State Sr. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
MF Caroline Cole Central Missouri Sr. Columbia, Mo.
MF Sarah Hungerford Columbus State Jr. Richmond Hill, Ga.
MF Taylor Tufts Dallas Baptist Sr. Southlake, TX
D Lotte Brands Maryville Sr. Amsterdam, Netherlands
D Ahnalie Layman West Florida Sr. St. Augustine, Florida
D Cat Smith Frostburg State Sr. Parsonsburg, Md.
D Carly Yeager Thomas Jefferson Jr. Cinnaminson, N.J.
GK Sydney Potter Concordia-St. Paul So. South St. Paul, Minn.

2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association Women's Soccer All-America Third Team
Pos. Name School Year Hometown
F Teani Arakawa Hawaii Hilo Sr. Makawao, Hawaii
F Juliette Lucas Charleston So. Dunedin, New Zealand
F McKinley Mendenhall Ashland Sr. Ashland, Ohio 
F Sydney Tucker Concord Sr. Raleigh, N.C.
MF Aliah Avila Stanislaus State So. Madera, Calif.
MF Isabella Muzzolini Simon Fraser Sr. Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
MF Tara Oper Cal Poly Pomona Sr. Riverside, CA
MF Sarah Peternel Shepherd Sr. Wolfeboro, NH
D Kelsey Croft Columbus State So. Douglasville, Ga.
D Madison Keenan Molloy So. Selden, N.Y.
D Lauren Nylund Missouri Western State Sr. San Antonio, Texas
D Emma Thrapp Point Loma Nazarene Sr. Temecula, Calif.
GK Liv Riddel Thomas Jefferson Sr. Jerrabomberra, Australia