Release courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletic Communications
2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Women's Soccer Team
BALTIMORE, MD –- The Johns Hopkins women's soccer team extended its streak of consecutive years with at least one CoSIDA Academic All-American to five and boosted its all-time total to 16 selections as senior defender Mizuho Obayashi and junior forward Rachel Jackson both earned third team honors it was announced today. This is the first time Obayashi and Jackson have earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors; the 16 overall selections for the Blue Jays rank third all-time in Division III women's soccer history.
Johns Hopkins was one of just seven teams to place multiple players on the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division III Women's Soccer Team; coupled with two additional selections to the men's team, Johns Hopkins was one of just three schools (Chicago, MIT) to have four players named to the two teams combined.
Obayashi, who graduated in May with a degree in neuroscience and a 3.65 cumulative GPA, was named a United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in 2019. The senior defender was also a first team all-region and All-Centennial selection in 2019. Appearing in 69 career contests, Obayashi started 47 of them, scoring three goals and handing out three assists.
Obayashi has spent part of the last three years as a Research Assistant in the Kamiya Laboratory at the Johns Hopkoins School of Medicine Schizophrenia Center. Previously, the Utah native worked as a Research Assistant in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Obayashi has also spent time during her JHU career as a University Study Consultant, a JHU Best Buddies mentor and an active member of Nu Rho Psi, the Undergraduate Honor Society for Neuroscience.
A junior with a 3.64 GPA in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Jackson is a two-time all-region selection, a First Team All-Centennial selection in 2019 and the 2018 Centennial Conference Rookie-of-the-Year. She has scored 20 goals in 43 career games and counts 47 career points to her credit; her 27 points in 2018 are the sixth-best total in school history for a freshman.
Off the pitch, Jackson has spent time as a Clinical Lab Assistant at Curative. She is currently a Differential Equations PILOT Leader and the Public Relations Chair of the National Society of Black Engineers. She also serves as the Social Media and Marketing Executive Chair of the Black Student Athlete Association.
The 2020-21 Academic All-District® Men's Soccer Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions – NCAA Division I, Division II Division III and NAIA.