The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Soccer Lands Four on Capital One Academic All-District Team
November 04 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – Four members of The No. 6 University of Akron men's soccer team, including repeat honorees Chad Barson and David Meves, have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Friday.
UA's four honorees, which also included Scott Caldwell and Thomas Schmitt, matches a single-season, program high originally set last season.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average, participate in at least 50 percent of their team's games and be of at least sophomore athletic eligibility. By being named to the All-District First Team, all four UA standouts are eligible for 2011 Academic All-American status.
It is the second-straight year Barson and Meves, who each earned Academic All-America Second Team status in 2010, have received the distinction. Caldwell and Schmitt received all-district academic honors for the first time.
The Zips have now earned 12 Academic All-District team honors in six years since head coach Caleb Porter's arrival in 2006.
Barson, a junior defender who owns a 3.99 cumulative GPA as a biology major, has started every game of his collegiate career and is – along with Caldwell – a team captain this fall. The native of Lewis Center, Ohio, was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week on Sept. 12 and is a veteran presence on a team that entered the week ranked 10th in the nation for goals-against-average (0.61).
Caldwell, a junior midfielder who owns a 3.95 GPA as an accounting major, is ranked sixth in the country with a team-leading 10 assists in 17 matches. The native of Braintree, Mass., was named the Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the week on Sept. 9 and was the league's Player of the Week on Sept. 13. From his attacking midfield position, Caldwell has helped guide the nation's fifth-best scoring offense as the Zips entered the week averaging 2.29 goals per match.
Meves, a junior goalkeeper who owns a 3.78 GPA as a corporate financial management major, has also started every game of his collegiate career, helping to set a number of school and NCAA records for defensive efficiency along the way. The native of Arlington Heights, Ill., was named a 2011 Preseason All-American by both College Soccer News and Soccer America and has recorded 10 shutouts in 17 contests this fall.
Schmitt, a junior forward who owns a 3.54 GPA as a sports management major, has enjoyed a breakout season with a career-high five goals, including a pair of game-winners. In all, the native of Berea, Ohio, has appeared in all 17 games this fall and made 11 starts.
The Zips (12-3-3), who have already clinched the MAC regular-season championship, will conclude the regular season Sunday at Florida Atlantic. Kick off is scheduled for 2 p.m. (ET)
UA Men's Soccer
All-Time Academic All-District Team Honorees
Desmond Johnston, 1997
Justin Milliard, 1997
Bill Wahl, 1997
Justin Milliard, 1998
Orjan Bjaneso, 1999
Gabe Rhoads, 1999
Matt Sprague, 1999
Orjan Bjaneso, 2000
Torbjorn Birkeland, 2001
Orjan Bjaneso, 2001
Kyle Milligan, 2001
Elliot Bradbrook, 2007
Ossie Michalsen, 2007
Ben Zemanski, 2009
Kofi Sarkodie, 2009
Anthony Ampaipitakwong, 2010
Chad Barson, 2010
David Meves, 2010
Kofi Sarkodie, 2010
Chad Barson, 2011
Scott Caldwell, 2011
David Meves, 2011
Thomas Schmitt, 2011
