FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

NSCAA Release

Jan. 19, 2012-- North Central College men's soccer midfielders Michael Curtis, Ryan Carroll and Michael Lenzi were all honored for their performance on the field and in the classroom, earning a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-North/Central Region Team for the College Division.

Curtis, a 2010 Honorable Mention selection to the Scholar All-Region team, earned a spot on the Second Team while Carroll and Lenzi both earned Third Team accolades.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) throughout his career; start more than 50 percent of all games and be a significant contributor to the team; be nominated by an institution that is a current NSCAA College Services member; be a junior or above in academic standing at the current institution; be in his second year at the current school if he is a transfer student; and submit an official copy of a certified transcript.

The College Division of the North/Central Regions consists of colleges and universities representing NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA in the states of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

A total of seven student-athletes from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin were honored. North Park University had two players earn honors while Carthage College and Illinois Wesleyan University each had one player on the Scholar All-Region squad.

Curtis, a 2011 Second Team All-CCIW selection, appeared in 16 games for the Cardinals, making 15 starts. The senior finished the 2011 campaign with two goals and three assists, including the game-winning goal against Rockford College on Sept. 7. The Academic All-CCIW selection closed his Cardinal career with nine goals and four assists.

Carroll lands on the Third Team after starting in 16 games for the Cardinals in 2011. The senior midfielder finished second on the team in goals (seven) and points (16) while notching the game-winner in the team's 2-1 upset of CCIW-rival North Park on Oct. 29. Carroll closes his career with eight goals and nine assists, including two game-winners.

Lenzi earns Third Team accolades after playing in 16 games for the Cardinals in 2011, starting in 15. Lenzi tallied one goal and three assists during the fall and has tallied three goals and five assists for North Central over the past two seasons.

North Central finished its 2011 campaign with a 10-5-2 overall record and a 2-3-2 mark within the conference, posting its first winning season since 1999.