Official Release
Towson, MD. – It was announced over the weekend that eight Mid-American Conference student-athletes have been honored for the academic success as recipients of 2011 Capital One Academic All-America honors, as recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
On the men’s side, Akron represented the Mid-American Conference with three members honored. For the second consecutive year, Chad Barson and David Meves have been named to the academic teams. Joining them in 2011 is teammate, and Barson’s Co-Captain, Scott Caldwell.
Junior center back, Chad Barson, received the top honors among the Zips as he was named to the first team. Barson started every game in 2011 for the defending national champion Zips and helped lead them to a 15-4-4 record. Off the pitch, Barson is a Biology major with a 3.99 GPA at the University of Akron. In 2010 Barson was named to the Academic All-American second team.
Named to the second team was junior midfielder Scott Caldwell. Caldwell is majoring in Accounting and holds a 3.95 GPA. Caldwell, a first time honoree, led the Zips with 11 assists and was second on the team with six goals.
Playing behind Barson and Caldwell, goalkeeper David Meves was honored for the second time in his career. As a junior, Meves was named to the third team for the second consecutive season. The Zips goalkeeper recorded 10 shutouts in 22 matches in 2011 as a Corporate Finance Management major with a 3.78 GPA.
The Mid-American Conference was the most represented conference on the women’s side of things. Five student-athletes combined to make up members of the first, second and third teams which is the most by any conference in 2011. Representing the Mid-American Conference was Anina Cicerone of Western Michigan, Shannon Algoe of Buffalo, and Bethany Allport, Stephanie Turner and Bailey Brandon of Central Michigan.
Western Michigan’s Cicerone was the lone member to be honored on the first team. In 2011 Cicerone led the Broncos with nine goals as the Broncos tie a school record with 14 wins on the season. Cicerone, a Bio-medical Science major with a 3.96 GPA, was named to the MAC All-Tournament Team after leading Western Michigan into the MAC Championship match.
Central Michigan, like Akron on the men’s side, was the most represented school in the 2011 Capital One Academic All-America teams. Central Michigan had three student athletes honored between the second and third teams.
For Central Michigan, Bethany Allport was named to the second team. Allport, a Finance major with a 3.97 GPA, helped the Chippewa’s defense to a record setting year as the team only allowed nine goals in 2011.
Also out of the back for Central Michigan were Stefanie Turner and Bailey Brandon, who were named to the third team. Turner anchored the defense in goal with four shutouts in 16 starts and is a Biology and Biomedical Sciences double major with a 3.96 GPA. Brandon, another CMU defender, has a 3.93 GPA as she studies Law and Economics. Brandon, whose lone goal on the season was a game winner over Bowling Green, helped stabilize the back line along with Allport.
For the Buffalo Bulls, defender Shannon Algoe was named to the second team joining CMU’s Allport. Algoe, a Business Administration and Management major, carries a 4.00 GPA and helped Buffalo to second place finish in the east division of the Mid-American Conference and a first round upset of Kent State in the conference tournament. Algoe started 19 of the 21 games this season for Buffalo who allowed the second fewest goals in the conference in 2011 with 17.
2011 Capital One Academic All-America
Men’s MAC Soccer Honorees:
First Team
Chad Barson, Akron, Defender
Second Team
Scott Caldwell, Akron, Midfielder
Third Team
David Meves, Akron, Goalkeeper
Women’s MAC Soccer Honorees:
First Team
Anina Cicerone, Western Michigan, Midfielder
Second Team
Shannon Algoe, Buffalo, Defender
Bethany Allport, Central Michigan, Defender
Third Team
Stefanie Turner, Central Michigan, Goalkeeper
Bailey Brandon, Central Michigan, Defender