(Portions of this article taken from Colorado College, Oglethorpe and Trinity websites)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Led by First Team All-American selections Mark Lavery of Oglethorpe University and Zach Garcia of Trinity University the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference had three players elected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III Men's All-America Teams.
Junior forward Matt Fechter of Colorado College was named a Second-Team All-American.
Garcia scored six goals - with five game-winners - and produced five assists for 17 points in 2011. For his career, he scored 19 goals and 12 assists, totaling 50 points in 78 games played. Garcia, who earned All-American honors in 2009 and 2010, becomes the fourth TU Tiger in men's soccer history as a three-time All-American. Garcia joins Lance Key (1997, 98, 99), Josh Smith (2001, 02, 03) and Tyrone Petrakis (2006, 07, 08) to earn that honor.
Lavery becomes the first Stormy Petrel in school history to receive a First Team All-America designation in men's soccer following Oglethorpe's most successful season on the pitch in 50 years of competition. Lavery, who earlier this year was named SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year anchored an Oglethorpe defense that allowed just 1.22 goals per contest. The senior also recorded six goals and assisted on four others for 16 points on the season. Lavery is just the second player in Oglethorpe history to be recognized as an All-American in men’s soccer joining David Mueller who earned Third-Team All-American honors by the NSCAA in 2006.
Fechter was involved in six of CC's 11 game-winning goals, scoring three and assisting on three others. He also set up game-tying goals on two occasions. The Tigers were 5-2-0 this season when he found the net and 8-2-2 when he had a point. Earlier this year, Fechter was named SCAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year earning first-team all-SCAC accolades for the third consecutive season after finishing first in assists, third in points and tied for fourth in goals. He also was second in shots and tied for fifth in game-winning goals.
To view the entire 2011 NSCAA All-American Team, click here.
