by Karen Sangillo
Julia Beck had a season to remember. The Langhorne resident, a defender for the Misericordia University women’s soccer team, capped the year off with a third team All-American selection by United Soccer Coaches. She was named a first team academic All-American.
College Sports Communicators also named her the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Soccer Academic All-American of the Year. Julia anchored a defense that allowed 17 goals and 3.3 shots on goal per game in 2023. She also scored 11 goals and had five assists for 27 points.
Last season she started in all 23 games, was a D3soccer.com second team All-American, earned first team all-region IV honors, was all-MAC first team and MAC Academic Honor Roll. She tallied six goals and five assists.
As a freshman she appeared in all 22 matches, was first team All-MAC Freedom and United Soccer Coaches first team all-region, with five goals and six assists.
The Cougars won the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom title and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, ending the season 16-4-1.
“Our team had a pretty good year,” Julia said. “It’s always a goal to win the conference and get to the NCAA tournament. We’d like to win it again and get as far as we can in the tournament next year, and I think it’s possible.
“We lose three fifth-year players who are really good but we’re bringing in new people, plus, of this year’s six freshmen, four came in with injuries so they’ll be healthy next year. I think we’re looking good.
Next year will be bittersweet because it will be my last. My goal is to just leave it all out there on the field, be a team player and a good role model for the freshmen. All the individual awards are cool, but as a team, making a deep run in the tournament would be the most satisfying thing.”
A junior, Julia has a 4.0 GPA and majors in psychology in Misericordia’s physical therapy doctoral program. She is a 2021 graduate of Villa Joseph Marie.
“I had a lot of academic work in high school, and I think that prepared me for college, especially my freshman year. My friends were overwhelmed but I felt more prepared.
“It’s really nice to be recognized for my work in the classroom. It’s also very nice to be recognized for athletics because it shows that all the hard work pays off.”
In addition to playing soccer at Misericordia, she is also on the board of the Physical Therapy Club and is a Peer Advocate, helping incoming freshmen adjust to college life.
PHOTO CAP: Julia Beck