Harrison, Verdi Named Academic All-District
11/7/2019 1:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior goalkeeper Andrew Verdi and junior defender Joel Harrison of the University of Michigan men's soccer team were named Academic All-District Five (first team) selections by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday (Nov. 7).
The honor recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The duo advances to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot; first-, second- and third-team honorees will be announced in early December.
They are the sixth and seventh student-athletes from the men's soccer program to receive CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, joining Matt Niemeyer (2004), Michael Parke (2006), Peri Marosevic (2007), Chris Blais (2009) and Ivo Cerda (2016-18). This is the first time U-M has two honorees in the same season.
Verdi (Ivyland, Pennsylvania) started the team's first 15 matches and played every minute prior to suffering an injury in overtime against Wisconsin on Oct. 25. This season, he has posted career-best marks in goals-against average (0.78), save percentage (.727) and shutouts (seven). Verdi will graduate in the spring with a degree in business administration.
Verdi
Harrison (Langley, British Columbia, Canada) stepped into a starting role on the back line this season, playing in 14 matches (13 starts). One of the team's three captains, Harrison helped anchor one of the nation's best defenses, allowing only 12 goals in 17 matches (two on PKs). He scored his first collegiate goal in the season opener against Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 30.
The Wolverines will open Big Ten Tournament play on Sunday (Nov. 10) vs. Michigan State at U-M Soccer Stadium. The match will begin at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. [ Tickets ]
