STANFORD, Calif. – Andrew Epstein, Drew Skundrich, Ty Thompson and Eric Verso were selected to the 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) it was announced Thursday. The quartet now advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected early next month.
The Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. The teams are divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada with District 8 encompassing Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai’i, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Canada.
The four Cardinal representatives on the 13-member team from District 8 set a new program record, surpassing the three from 2014, 2013, 2003 and 2002. Stanford has placed multiple student-athletes on CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams for three straight years and its four this year are more than any other of the nation’s top 25 teams.
A junior electrical engineering major with a 3.74 GPA, Andrew Epstein is also one of the nation’s best keepers and owns the NCAA’s 16th- best goals against average (0.644). He has posted five solo shutouts in 2015, made 36 saves and was voted the Pac-12’s Player of the Week on September 8.
Drew Skundrich has played a big role in Stanford’s defensive success this season, sliding into Jimmy Callinan’s position at right back, a spot the departed senior had occupied for 56 straight games to end his career. Skundrich, who has yet to declare a major but sports a 3.52 GPA, has tallied three assists this season. Stanford students declare their majors as juniors.
Senior co-captain Ty Thompson has led the No. 4 Cardinal to a 12-1-2 overall record, a 5-0-2 mark in conference play and a 14-match unbeaten stretch. Patrolling Stanford’s central midfield, the economics major with a 3.51 GPA has assisted on three of his team’s 27 goals this season.
Fellow senior Eric Verso, who carries a 3.50 GPA while majoring in management, science and engineering, has set up more scores than just about anyone in the country in 2015. He leads the conference and is third nationally in both assists (10) and assists per game (0.67). Verso, who tallied an assist in five straight matches, is one of just six players in the nation with 10 or more. He is just the 10th Stanford player since 1980 to reach that number and the fifth since 1985.
Unbeaten in 14 straight, No. 4 Stanford (12-1-2, 5-0-2) hits the road for the final time this regular season for matches at Oregon State (7-5-1, 2-2-1) on Friday, Oct. 30 (5 p.m.) and Washington (6-3-5, 2-1-2) on Monday, Nov. 2 (7 p.m.). Monday’s game will be carried on the Pac-12 Networks.