Aug. 26, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Matt Besler (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West), a senior defender on the Notre Dame men’s soccer team, has been named a preseason All-American by Soccer America and College Soccer News. Besler was selected to the second team by both sources.
These are the first such national accolades for Besler, who is a team tri-captain for the second straight season. As a junior, Besler was named to the All-Great Lakes Region second team along with earning second-team all-BIG EAST honors as he helped Notre Dame to a share of the league’s Blue Division title. He also was a second-team all-conference pick as a sophomore. Earlier this month, Besler was named to the BIG EAST All-Preseason Team for the second straight season.
Besler has been a major reason why the Fighting Irish have reached the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Championships in each of the past two seasons. Even while helping to solidifying a stout Notre Dame defense, he has registered six points on two goals and two assists in each of the past two seasons. Besler has played in 69 games, including 52 starts, during his Notre Dame career. He has tallied 14 points on four goals and six assists.
In addition to his on-the-field successes, Besler was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-American in 2007. He also is a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
Besler and the third-ranked Fighting Irish will open the 2008 regular season this Friday against No. 12 Akron at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington, Ind. Game time is slated for 5:00 p.m. (ET).
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