Joseph Lapira has been named a first-team All-American by the NSCAA for the second straight season.

Lapira And Miller Tabbed As NSCAA All-Americans

Dec. 17, 2007

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame seniors Joseph Lapira (Lake Charles, La./Saint Louis Catholic) and Ryan Miller (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) have been selected as All-Americans according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Lapira was named to the NSCAA/adidas first team for the second straight season, while Miller garnered his first All-America honor as he was a second team pick.

Lapira led the Fighting Irish in scoring for the third straight season as he totaled 28 points on nine goals and 10 assists. The forward concluded his stellar Notre Dame career fifth in program history in both goals (41) and points (105). He also holds the school record for goals in NCAA Championship play with six. Lapira tallied two goals during this season’s NCAA Tournament as he helped the Irish reach the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

In addition to his NSCAA honors, Lapira was also named a second-team All-American according to College Soccer News. Lapira became the program’s first unanimous All-American in 2006. He and Greg Dalby (class of ’07) are the only players in Notre Dame history to be named a first-team NSCAA All-American in consecutive seasons. The reigning M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner is also one of three finalists for the award this season.

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Ryan Miller becomes the seventh All-American in program history.

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Miller, a defender, is the seventh All-American in program history. Last month, Miller earned second-team Academic All-America honors from ESPN the Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He becomes the first student-athlete to receive both All-America and Academic All-America distinction in the history of the Notre Dame program. The fifth-year senior established a Fighting Irish record by appearing in 89 consecutive matches, all starts. Miller posted career-best numbers this season in goals with six and points with 16.

The duo also garnered conference accolades this season. Lapira and Miller were unanimous all-BIG EAST selections and they were named to the BIG EAST Championship all-tournament team.

Rounding out the NSCAA/adidas All-America first team are O’Brian White (F, Connecticut), Patrick Nyarko (F, Virginia Tech), Xavier Balc (F, Ohio State), Peter Lowry (M, Santa Clara), Andrew Jacobson (M, California), Alejandro Bedoya (M, Boston College), Reuben Ayarna (M, Boston College), Pat Phelan (D, Wake Forest), Julius James (D, Connecticut), Eric Brunner (D, Ohio State) and Stefan Frei (GK, California).

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