ITHACA, N.Y. — Fort Lewis College men’s soccer players Berekk Blackwell and Johannes Sander were named to the Capitol One Academic All-District 7 Division II men’s soccer team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Committee announced last Friday.

Blackwell, a 6-foot-2 senior defender from Notre Dame Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz., maintains a 3.80 grade point average in Business Administration-Finance. He was named to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic first team last month and second team in 2010. He is also a two-time recipient of the D2 Athletic Directors Association/WeatherPORT Academic Achievement Award.

Blackwell also received first team All-RMAC honors last week. He has notched one goal and one assist thus far in 2011. During his four-year career, he has tallied eight total points on three goals and two assists.

While at Fort Lewis, Blackwell has been part of three RMAC regular season, postseason, and NCAA playoff teams (2008, 2009, 2011). He was also a member of FLC’s 2009 NCAA Division II national championship team.

“Berekk has been a model student-athlete at Fort Lewis, on the field and in the classroom,” said third-year FLC head coach Oige Kennedy. “During Fabian Kling’s absence (seven games last month due to a knee injury), Berekk has come in and led the back line for us.”

Sander, a 6-foot-2, 190-lb. redshirt freshman defender, is a graduate of Gymnasium Scolose Overhagen in Erwite, Germany. He carries a 3.63 GPA in Exercise Science-Sport Administration.

He scored his first collegiate goal — a game-winner — in FLC’s 4-1 win at Colorado Mines on Sept. 30. As a central defender, he has played a huge role in his team’s 0.450 goals against average and 11 shutouts.

“Johannes has been quite the success story academically,” said Kennedy, who added that the second-year player overcame language and cultural barriers at Fort Lewis. “It’s been really impressive to see him win this award. His play on the field has been equally impressive as he’s become one of the top defenders in the country.”

Nominations and voting for the CoSIDA/ESPN All-America programs are conducted by CoSIDA members. There are separate teams for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, plus a College Division, which includes NAIA and junior college.

Academic All-District teams are chosen in each of eight districts, with those on the All-District first teams placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

The Fort Lewis men’s soccer team (19-1-0), ranked No. 3 in the latest national poll, hosts No. 21 Metro State (14-6-1) this Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Dirks Field. Complete details, including kickoff time and ticket prices, will be announced tomorrow.

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