Nov. 13, 2009

IRVING, Texas – Sixteen men’s soccer student-athletes were named to the 2009 Conference USA All-Academic Team, as announced by the league office today. South Carolina led all teams with four selections to the all-academic squad, while Kentucky had three. Marshall, Memphis, Tulsa and UAB each placed two representatives on the team while Florida International had one. The all-academic team consists of student-athletes who have earned a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or better and are a starter or key reserve on their team.

South Carolina junior forward Sam Arthur was a unanimous pick to the all-academic team. The two-time all-academic honoree is a double-major in finance and marketing with a minor in sport and entertainment management. The Roswell, Ga., native was also named to the All-C-USA First Team earlier this week. Arthur ranks among the top in the league in game-winning goals on the year and garnered Soccer America and TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week honors earlier this season.

Also representing the Gamecocks on the all-academic squad are Blake Brettschneider, Jimmy Maurer and Will Traynor. Brettschneider is a public relations student with a minor in political science. The Lilburn, Ga., native was also named to the All-C-USA Third Team this season. Maurer earns his second-consecutive all-academic team honor as a finance and marketing student with a minor in sport and entertainment management. The junior goalkeeper also earned All-C-USA Third Team accolades this season by totaling 1,702 minutes in the net and collecting five shutouts. Traynor, a sport and entertainment management major, knocked in two goals from the defender position earlier this season.