Parts of this story courtesy of the Colorado College and Trinity University Sports Information Departments
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference set a new league record with eight men's soccer players earning National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American recognition Thursday.
The previous best for the SCAC was four NSCAA all-americans, which happened four times (1996, 2004, 2006, 2015).
The eight SCAC honorees is the most among all conferences for the 2016 season. The next closest leagues are the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and the University Athletic Association (UAA) with four apiece. Incredibly, 25% of the first team All-Americans were players from the SCAC.
Colorado College and Trinity University each garnered four awards. CC placed two players on first team, one on second team and one on third team, while Trinity had two on each first and second team.
Making up the first team honorees is Colorado College's Theo Hooker and Soren Frykholm, joined by Trinity's Laurence Wyke and Austin Michaelis.
Hooker, a goalkeeper from Albuquerque, N.M., was dominant in the net posting a 14-3-1 record, while allowing just 12 goals all season for a 0.64 goals against average, both marks that lead the conference. Hooker also recorded 48 saves on the season for a .800 save percentage and posted 10 shutouts.
Frykholm, a senior defensive midfielder from Boulder, Colo., was a key member of the Colorado College defense which tied for eighth nationally with a .600 shutout percentage after recording 12 clean sheets in 20 games. The Tigers also ranked 10th in Division III with a 0.58 goals-against average. Frykholm started all 17 games in which he played, recording 1,532 minutes of action.
Wyke, a sophomore midfielder from Bolton, England, led a Tigers' defense which produced 14 clean-sheet games over the season. Opponents scored only 16 goals over 24 matchups. Offensively, Wyke scored seven goals (two game-winners) and shelled out two assists for 16 points. Wyke was previously selected as the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and the SCAC Tournament Defensive MVP.
Michaelis, a sophomore forward from Coppell, Texas, sparked Trinity's offense which fired in 69 goals (2.88 goals per game). He led the team with 11 goals, along with five game-winners. Michaelis produced nine assists, and paced the Tigers with 31 points. The conference elected Michaelis the SCAC Offensive Player of the Year.
On second team was CC defender Jack McCormick and Trinity midfielders Kellen Reid and Christian Sakshaug.
McCormick, a senior from Hudson, Ohio, anchored Colorado College's back line from his center-back position. The two-time first-team all-SCAC selection started all 18 games in which he played and ranked third on the team with 1,385 minutes.
Reid, a junior from Coppell, Texas, chalked up seven goals and one game-winner in the campaign. He supplied five assists to his teammates, and wrapped up with 19 points.
Sakshaug, a sophomore from San Antonio, is now a two-time All-American. He was selected for the 2015 All-America Third Team. This season, Sakshaug was the Tigers assists leader, with 11 in his column. He scored two goals (one game-winner), and concluded the year with 15 points. Sakshaug was also named the SCAC Tournament Offensive MVP.
Rounding out the SCAC All-Americans is Colorado College's Caden MacKenzie, a senior forward from Denver, Colo.
MacKenzie returned this season after missing all of 2015 with an injury, matching his career highs with seven goals, three assists and 17 points. His career high five game-winning goals tied for second in the conference.
