TOWSON, Md. -- Four Horizon League men's soccer players were selected to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-America Men's Soccer teams, as voted upon by the College Sports Infortmation Directors of America. Butler's Conner Burt earned his second straight first team selection, while teammate Ben Sippola also made the first team. Loyola defenseman Will Martin picked up a spot on the second team, and Valparaiso goalkeeper Ryan Schwarz was voted to the third team.
Burt, who earned All-Horizon League Second Team honors for his work on Butler's back line, was voted to the University Divison First Team for the second straight year. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Burt has chipped in a goal and two assists for Butler, starting 76 straight games for the unbeaten Bulldogs.
In the classroom, Burt holds a 3.96 grade-point average with a major in economics.
The Elkhart, Ind.-native is joined by his teammate, Sippola, who had a career year for the 16-0-3 Bulldogs, earning Horizon League Player of the Year accolades after leading the League with nine assists and finishing second with 25 points. Starting every Butler game over the last two years, Sippola helped lead the Bulldogs to the No. 13 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
An English Literature major, Sippola holds a 3.72 G.P.A. The duo of Burt and Sippola makes Butler the only school to place two players on the University Division First Team.
Martin was a rock on the Loyola defense, as the Ramblers allowed just 19 goals in 18 games this fall. Helping the Ramblers take the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League Tournament, Martin started all 18 matches, adding a goal and two assists during the year.
A biology major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Martin owns a 3.97 G.P.A, the second-highest of any member of the University Division Second Team.
Schwarz, the two-time Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, helped the Crusaders post a winning 9-8-2 record, posting four shutouts in 14 starts this season. Earning a 3.72 G.P.A. with a finance major, Schwarz was voted to the University Division Third Team.
With four selections, the Horizon League earned the second-most ESPN Academic All-America honorees of any conference.
