WALTHAM, Mass. — Three members of the Brandeis University soccer teams have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District One teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Senior goalkeeper Michelle Savuto of Ridgewood, N.J., was honored by CoSIDA for her academics for the second time in her career for the Brandeis women.
Savuto has helped backstop the Brandeis women to an 11-3-1 record this season. She has started 11 games, playing the first half of most of them. Her .048 goals-against average is fourth in the University Athletic Association (UAA), while her .810 save percentage is seventh-best. Savuto has posted two solo shutouts and been part of nine overall. The Judges set a school-record with 11-straight wins earlier this season, including eight by shutout. Off the field, Savuto owns a 3.81 grade-point average as a Health: Science, Society and Policy major. She is a three-time Dean's list and three-time Academic All-UAA selection. Last summer, she worked at Children's HealthWatch in the Boston Medical Center.
For the Brandeis men, senior forward Tyler Savonen of Orleans, Mass., and junior back Conor Lanahan of Avon, Conn., were each recognized for the first time.
The pair have helped the Brandeis men match the best start in school history. The Judges are 15-1 and ranked No. 3 in Division III. Savonen is a three-time UAA Player of the Week honoree this season. He is second in the conference in points (20) and goals (9). He had three game-winning goals this season, including two in conference action. Savonen owns a 3.60 grade-point average as an economics and business double major. He is vice president of Brandeis's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has been named to the Dean's List every semester and the Academic All-UAA team three times.
Lanahan has anchored a Brandeis defense that leads all of NCAA Division III with a 0.24 goals-against average. The Judges have allowed just four goals in 16 contests this season, posting 13 shutouts – also tops in Division III. Lanahan was UAA Defensive Player of the Week once this season, and has also scored a goal and an assist. He was a second-team All-UAA selection as a sophomore. Owning a 3.41 grade-point average in biochemistry, Lanahan has been named to the Dean's List once and the Academic All-UAA team twice.
Savuto, Savonen and Lanahan are now eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. To be nominated for Academic All-America honors, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically with a minimum 3.30 grade-point average.
Savuto is a 2011 graduate of Ridgewood High School.
Savonen is a 2011 graduate of Nauset Regional High School.
Lanahan is a 2012 graduate of Avon High School.
Click for a link to the full 2014 Capital One Academic All-District team release.