Dec. 20, 2011

2011 NSCAA Scholar All-America Team

2011 NSCAA Scholar All-East Team

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Two Patriot League men’s soccer players were recognized for their performances both on the pitch and in the classroom when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced its Scholar All-America team, it was announced by the organization Tuesday.

Bucknell junior forward Brendan Burgdorf was named to the NSCAA Scholar All-America first team, while Army senior defender Jeff Pickett garnered third-team honors.

The announcement was made a day after both student-athletes were named to the NSCAA Scholar All-East first team.

After being named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by the League’s head coaches and sports information directors, Burgdorf finished 2011 tied for eighth in the League with 10 points on a pair of markers and six assists. His six dishes were a team high while finishing tied for second in the League.

Pickett played in 16 of the Black Knights’ 18 matches this season and was a significant contributor to Army’s defense during a 7-10-1 season. Army’s win total was its highest since 2007.

Both Burgdorf and Pickett were named to the NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic team earlier this month, with Burgdorf earning first-team accolades and Pickett appearing on the third team.

Joining Burgdorf and Pickett on the NSCAA Scholar All-East team was Bucknell senior defender Andrew Powell, who garnered second-team recognition. In addition, Bucknell keepers Tommy Caso and Marc Hartmann, both seniors, a senior Bison midfielder Ryan Sappington, along with Lafayette senior keeper Graham Heydt and junior midfielder Blake Fink, garnered Scholar All-East honorable mention status.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be at least a junior academically with a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average through the majority of their career, start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant contributor and be nominated by an institution than is an NSCAA member.