Men's Soccer . July 19, 2016

Jeffrey Torda Named Conference USA Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year

July 19, 2016

IRVING, Texas – Gamecock Jeffrey Torda earned the Conference USA Men’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year award on Tuesday, the league office announced. Torda stands with 17 other honorees and is the second Gamecock in as many years to win the distinction, joining 2015 alum Braeden Troyer.

Torda is a four-time C-USA Academic Honor Roll selection, a two-time C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal honoree and a two-time member of the C-USA All-Academic Team. Also a four-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, the Colleyville, Texas, native garnered back-to-back NSCAA Second-Team Scholar All-South and CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 selections in 2014 and 2015.

On the field, Torda led South Carolina with four game-winning goals in 2015 and tied for second on the team with five goals, earning Third-Team All-Conference USA honors. The senior from Colleyville, Texas wrapped up his Gamecock career with 15 career goals, six counting as game-winners.

The league’s faculty athletics representatives voted on the awards to cover the 19 sports sponsored by Conference USA. The award is based on academic achievement (GPA), athletic achievement and service. Torda stands as the only student of an affiliate member to gain the honor in 2015-16.

South Carolina begins its 2016 season, its 12th as a C-USA member, on August 26 against Clemson. Combined season tickets with the women’s team are on sale now at GamecocksOnline.com/Tickets. Adults can gain admission to every men’s and women’s soccer home match for $25, while season tickets for youth 17 and under are just $10. Season ticket purchasers will receive a Gamecock vuvuzela for each season ticket they buy. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GamecockMSoccer) for team updates and information.

2015-16 C-USA SCHOLAR ATHLETE AWARD WINNERS:

Baseball — Brett Lashley, Florida Atlantic; Chase Boster, Marshall
Men’s Basketball — Nick Norton, UAB
Women’s Basketball — Kendall Noble, WKU
Men’s Cross Country — Bryce McAndrew, North Texas
Women’s Cross Country — Alexandra Phares, Marshall
Football — Lee McNeil, Charlotte
Men’s Golf — Cory Churchman, North Texas
Women’s Golf — Ellinor Haag, WKU
Men’s Soccer — Jeffrey Torda, South Carolina #
Women’s Soccer — Claire Emslie, Florida Atlantic
Softball — Morgan Zerkle, Marshall
Women’s Swimming & Diving — Mackenzie Payment, Old Dominion
Men’s Tennis — Jordi Massalle Ferrer, Charlotte
Women’s Tennis — Katherine Ip, Rice
Men’s Track and Field — Connor Bey, North Texas
Women’s Track and Field — *Belle MacFarlane, Rice
Volleyball — Ally Kiekover, Marshall