Oct. 30, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. –
Five South Carolina student-athletes garnered recognition on the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District 4 Soccer Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

A pair of senior co-captains from women’s soccer gained spots in goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo and defender Taylor Leach. On the men’s side, senior defender Braeden Troyer earned the honor for the third-consecutive year and was joined on the listing by junior Jeffrey Torda and sophomore Eli Dent. This is the third time in the past seven years that three Gamecocks made the district listings, following the 2008 and 2010 teams.

This season, D’Angelo has collected eight more shutouts to bring her career total to 27, second most in school history. With D’Angelo in net, the Gamecocks moved through non-conference allowing just one goal for the second season in a row and have seen just 11 total goals against this season. The Canadian has allowed less than a goal per game (0.779) over the course of her career.

Playing in front of D’Angelo in the centerback position, Leach has captained the defense to a 0.58 goals against average to lead the SEC and rank 13th nationally. The Gamecocks have allowed more than one goal just twice this season, a 3-2 win over No. 5 Florida and a 2-2 tie with No. 6 Texas A&M. The defender has also scored a pair of goals this season.

Troyer has played every minute of 2014 as one of the central defenders. He’s helped the Gamecocks to three shutouts and four matches with two or less shots on goal. His accolade list includes being a three-time All-Conference USA selection, including making the second team the past two years, two C-USA All-Academic Team spots and a third-team Freshman All-America nod from College Soccer News. He owns three C-USA Academic Medals and three Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll certificates.

Torda twice earned C-USA Academic Medals so far in his Gamecock career. The Colleyville, Texas, attacker, who has started every match this year, has two goals and one assist on the year, with both goals coming in the thrilling 5-4 win at FIU. The game-winner came off his foot with three seconds to play in the contest. He also has two SEC Academic Honor Roll nods on his résumé.

Dent has one C-USA Academic Medal and one SEC Academic Honor Roll selection to his credit. The Charleston, S.C., native has drawn 12 starts and played in all 16 matches, getting a goal and two assists on the season. One of the helpers came on the game-winning goal against Georgia State, finding an unmarked Jeff Addai with Dent’s corner kick.

All advance onto the national vote, with those results coming out on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

To be eligible for the Capital One Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.3 cumulative grade-point average and be a sophomore both academically and athletically and in their second year on the team.

2014 Capital One Academic All-District 4 Team
Men’s Soccer – NCAA Division I

GK Sven Lissek, Jr., Furman
D Chris Locandro, Sr., Georgia State
D Ian Michalak, Sr., UAB
D Ashani Samuels, Sr., Mercer
D Braeden Troyer, Sr., South Carolina
M Lucas Baldin, Sr, USF
M Marvin Schmiege, Jr., USC Upstate
M Jake Weiss, Sr., UCF
F Eli Dent, So., South Carolina
F Ignacio Monchetti, Sr., Presbyterian
F Jeffrey Torda, Jr., South Carolina

2014 Capital One Academic All-District 4 Team
Women’s Soccer – NCAA Division I

GK Sabrina D’Angelo, Sr., South Carolina
D Emily Byorth, So., Clemson
D Danielle Gray, So., Kennesaw State
D Taylor Leach, Sr., South Carolina
D Abby Lutzenkirchen, Jr., Alabama
D Jennifer Marzi, Sr., North Florida
M Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Sr., Florida State
M Katelyn Reeve, Sr., Clemson
M Merel van Dongen, Sr., Alabama
F Rachel Garcia, So., Georgia
F Casie Ramsier, So., Auburn
F Laura Lee Smith, Sr., Alabama