EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Soccer freshman forward Eric Ramirez (Vincennes, Indiana) and senior defender Michael Sass (New Palestine, Indiana) were honored with National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II All-Midwest Region honors. The All-Region awards were the second of the year for Ramirez and Sass.
Ramirez earned NSCAA first-team honors as a forward after pacing the Screaming Eagles with a team-high 21 points on 10 goals and one assist. The 10 goals were the most ever by a USI freshman. The freshman forward also was named second-team All-Midwest Region by the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) and the Division II Sports Information Directors (D2SIDA) after being named the GLVC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-GLVC.
Sass was named NSCAA second-team as a defender after helping anchor the backline of the USI defense that allowed just over a goal per game, while tallying four points on one goal and two assists. Sass also was named CCA/D2SIDA second-team All-Midwest Region and second-team All-GLVC this season.
The Eagles are coming off a season in which they reached the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 1982 before falling to Rockhurst University in the second round and concluding the year 13-4-4. The 13 wins are the most since 2002 and tied for fourth all-time in the history of the program.
