2013 NSCAA All-Americans |
Messiah's All-Time NSCAA All-Americans
Kansas City, PA – Still reeling from earning their 10th NCAA Division III Men's Soccer National Championship in program history, the Falcons of Messiah College were honored in a special way on Friday as
Joshua Wood,
Jeremy Payne, and
Carter Robbins were each named NSCAA All-Americans.
Wood and Payne were elected to the First Team while Robbins took home a Third Team honor.
The three selections for Messiah ties a program record for a single season; the Falcons' Kai Kasiguran, JD Binger, and Patrick Lenehan are the only other trio to earn All-American status in the same year (2007).
Wood's award is the first of his decorated career and comes
in conjunction with his being named the 2013 Division III National Player of the Year.
For Payne, the All-American honor is his second is as many years following his National Player of the Year recognition in 2012. This season the dynamic midfielder was named the Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year and finished second on Messiah (behind Wood) in both goals (17) and points (44). Payne was also tied for second the team in assists (10) with
Mike Kovach.
Seven of Payne's 17 goals were game-winners, including his overtime tally against Rutgers-Camden in the National Final.
"Jeremy had another great season for us in the midfield," Messiah head coach
Brad McCarty said of last year's National Player of the Year. "Perhaps what impressed me the most was that he accomplished everything this season while carrying the burden of last year's success.
"It's one thing to have one great year, but when your opponents are looking to shut you down every game and you are still able to be productive? That is impressive."
Robbins' All-American honor is the first of his career. He was this season's Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year and has shown himself to be one of the best center backs in the nation. His unique combination of size and athleticism in the backfield helped Messiah to an eighth-ranked 0.57 goals against average while the Falcons also held opponents to just six shots per game.
"Messiah has had a long tradition of excellent center backs, and Carter is one of the best," McCarty said. "Not only is he an excellent defender in the air and on the ground, but he is brilliant with the ball at his feet. He was able to step into the midfield and help us control the ball in our opponents half, yet still be a defensive mainstay in the back."
Earlier this week Wood, Payne, and Robbins were also named to the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region teams with teammates
Brian Ramirez and
Jack Thompson.
