KANSAS
CITY, Kan. — Saginaw
Valley State University captain Zach Myers (Grand Rapids,
Mich./Forest Hills Eastern HS) was named the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division II
Player of the Year, the NSCAA announced today (Dec. 10).
Myers becomes the first Cardinal to be named the NSCAA
National Player of the Year. NSCAA awards are voted on by head
men's soccer coaches across the country.
"Zach winning the National Player of the Year award is a testament
to what our program is all about...hard work pays off!," commented
head coach Cale Wassermann. "For him to rehab a broken leg
this spring, while trying to learn a new position, and to have so
much success is incredible. Zach has put every ounce of
energy he has into being a successful student-athlete and I could
not be more happy for him to receive such an incredible honor."
Myers, a senior forward, became the first men's soccer player in
school history to be named an All-American when he was selected to
both the NSCAA and Daktronics Inc. teams. He was also
selected to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team this
fall. He started all 25 matches this season for the SVSU
men's soccer program and posted a team and GLIAC best 17
goals, with two assists, after switching positions from defense to
forward this fall. Myers scored two or more goals in five matches
this season and became the first men's soccer player in GLIAC
history to win both 'Offensive Player of the Year' and 'Defensive
Player of the Year' honors in their career.
The Cardinals advanced to the NCAA DII Men's Soccer National Championship game this season for the first time in school history after capturing their second straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship earlier this fall. Saginaw Valley posted an 18-3-4 overall record and 10-1-1 mark in GLIAC contests this fall, both marks were school records. The Cardinals also won the NCAA-II Midwest Region, GLIAC regular season, and GLIAC tournament titles.
Myers and the rest of the Players of the Year and All-Americans from NCAA Divisions II and III and NAIA will be recognized at the annual All-America luncheon, to be held in Indianapolis, Ind., Saturday, Jan. 19 during the 2013 NSCAA Convention.
Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.
The NSCAA is the world's largest soccer coaches' organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.
For more information about the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, visit NSCAA.com.