Jan. 26, 2004
The University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team was one of 75 teams across the country to earn the 2002-03 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award. The Irish posted a 3.155 team grade point average for the ’02-’03 school year.
The Notre Dame men join the Irish women’s program in earning double honors for the University – one of 48 schools to accomplish that feat.
In other Irish men’s soccer news, senior Justin Detter and junior Chris Sawyer were named to the Soccer Times All-America team for 2003. Detter earned second-team honors, while Sawyer landed on the third team.
A recent MLS draftee by the Kansas City Wizards, Detter (White Lake, Mich.) played in 80 games during his career and finished with 74 career points and eight game-winning goals. The 2003 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player, he earned first-team all-conference honors and led the team with 14 goals and 33 points last season.
Detter finished in the top 15 all-time in total points at Notre Dame and scored an NCAA-match record five points vs. UW-Milwaukee during postseason play last fall. He also participated and played well in the MLS Player Combine during the last month.
Sawyer, a junior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., was the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year and his three shut outs during the BIG EAST Championship landed him the tournament’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. Sawyer led the BIG EAST with 12 shutouts in 2003 and posted an impressive 0.67 goals-against average.
Over the last 11 contests of the season, Sawyer held Notre Dame’s opponents to just four goals while compiling five straight shutouts. Of the 16 goals he allowed in ’03, eight came in two games meaning the Irish keeper held opponents to one or zero goals in 21 of 23 matches.