Gustavus Adolphus senior men’s soccer player Ben Ceder (Oregon, Wis.) earned a spot on the 2011 Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Team for District Six.
The 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
“We are so privileged to have had Ben Ceder in our program. He has been a top, top player and I sincerely believe he could have played for any soccer program, in any division in this country,” complimented Head Coach Mike Middleton. “After his injury at the end of last year, he blew everyone away with his work-rate – I have never seen an athlete with that drive, and capacity for hard work. He was truly awe-inspiring.”
The Academic All-District teams include student-athletes divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. This is the first year of the expanded Academic All-America program as CoSIDA moves from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non Division I) and doubles the number of scholar‐athletes honored. The teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools.
Ben Ceder started in all 19 of Gustavus’ matches this season, recording one assist for one point. The 2010 All-Conference performer started in 70-of-74 matches over his four-year career, finishing with two goals and two assists within that time.
Ceder was the anchor of a defensive unit that finished the season ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in goals against average (0.44) and ninth in shutout percentage (0.61). Within league-play, Gustavus allowed just seven goals for an average of .70 goals per game while turning in four shutouts.
The Gustavus men’s soccer team finished third in the MIAC with 21 points following a regular season in which the Gusties went 14-2-3 overall and 6-1-3 in league play. The Gusties fell to Carleton by the score of 1-0 in the first round of the MIAC Playoffs, as both of Gustavus’ two losses this season came in one-goal contests.
Ben Ceder, a three-time Academic All-MIAC honoree, is a Biology major with a GPA of 3.88. Ceder was voted the team’s MVP in 2010 and served as a captain this season. Along with his studies and performance on the pitch, Ben is a volunteer for The Third Floor and Special Olympics.
“Not only is he a top athlete, but his grades are something to behold as well. He is fully involved in community service aspect of the campus and also represents the students on several committees. Ben epitomizes what being a student-athlete is all about. He has filled his time with positive things, and been fully involved in collegiate life,” said Middleton.
Ceder joins 11 other players on the District Six First Team, three of which are representatives from the MIAC in Tyler Heaps of Augsburg, Ryan Cammarota of Carleton, and Taylor Rasmussen of Macalester.
“I cannot think of a better representative of what Gustavus as a college stands for,” concluded Middleton. “We are so proud to have him as a student here, and he has certainly made his life count in his four years – what a role model for our players. Ben’s so modest, he doesn’t realize how much the lads revere him.”
First-team Academic All-District honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All‐America Team ballot, where first, second and third team All- America honorees will be selected later this month.