Dec. 17, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gamecocks Braeden Troyer and Jeffrey Torda gained another award, as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America placed the duo on its University Division Scholar All-South Region Second Team.
The Columbia, South Carolina, native Troyer takes the award for the second time in his career. The senior center back played every minute of the season and anchored South Carolina’s defense that posted three shutouts on the season while adding an assist.
Torda, from Colleyville, Texas, posted three goals and an assist during the season. The junior forward/midfielder hit the game-winner at FIU with three seconds remaining in the match. As a sophomore, he tied for the team lead in goals with five.
Both Troyer and Torda made the Conference USA All-Academic Team and the Capital One Academic All-District 4 squad, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Troyer garnered first-team Capital One Academic All-America accolades from CoSIDA and a spot on the All-C-USA second team. The pair also hold C-USA Academic Medals and Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll placements, three for the senior Troyer and two for the junior Torda.
To be eligible for nomination, the student-athletes had to be juniors or seniors in academic standing and hold a 3.30 grade point average or better on a four-point scale.
South Carolina finished 2014 as the Conference USA Tournament runner-up, posting a 10-10 record in its 37th season of intercollegiate competition. The team earned its 10th NSCAA Team Academic Award earlier this year.
National Soccer Coaches Association of America
2014 Scholar All-South Region – Men’s University Division
First Team
GK Sven Lissek, Jr., Furman
D Jacob Vancompernolle, Sr., UNC Wilmington
M Alan Reiter, Sr., Davidson
M Lucas Baldin, Sr., USF
M Jamie Dell, Sr., UNC Wilmington
M Sean Davis, Sr., Duke
M Marvin Schmeige, Jr., USC Upstate
M John Lujano, Jr., SMU
M Magnus Thorsson, Jr., Winthrop
F Collin Bonner, Sr., UNC Wilmington
Second Team
GK Matthew Pacifici, Jr., Davidson
GK Kyle Nasta, Jr., North Florida
D Jonathan Campbell, Sr., North Carolina
D Eric Steber, Sr., Furman
D Braeden Troyer, Sr., South Carolina
D Quinn Starker, Sr., Tulsa
M Abe Matamoros, Sr., Tulsa
M Rodrigo Saravia, Jr., Florida Gulf Coast
M Alex Herbst, Jr., Appalachian State
F Jeffrey Torda, Jr., South Carolina
F Bryce Follensbee, Jr., Coastal Carolina
F Carlos Dominguez-Gonzalez, Sr., Wofford
F Nathan Diehl, Sr., Elon
F Rob Lovejoy, Sr., North Carolina
