St. Peter, Minn. – The accolades keep rolling in for members of the Gustavus Adolphus men’s soccer team. Senior defender Lucas Thompson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and sophomore goalkeeper Brett Ylonen (Lake Elmo, Minn.) are the most recent recipients, being named to the 2012 D3soccer.com Men’s All-America Team. Thompson is one of four defenders to earn a spot on the second team, while Ylonen garners third team honors as one of three keepers from across the country to take home All-America distinction.
This year, the teams were chosen by D3soccer.com staff, Division III soccer coaches and sports information directors from a field of over 600 nominations.
Senior Nate Bascom of Ohio Northern University is the D3soccer.com Forward of the Year, Messiah College sophomore Jeremy Payne is the Midfielder of the Year, and senior Julien Aoyama of Amherst College is the Defender of the Year. Senior Paul Killian of Stevens Institute of Technology was named Goalkeeper of the Year to round out the group.
A three-time All-Conference performer, Lucas Thompson continues to receive post-season accolades after an outstanding senior campaign as the director of Gustavus’ back line. Thompson also earned a place on the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men’s All-America Team and was a member of the NSCAA All-North Region First Team. The Sioux Falls, S.D. product anchored a defensive unit that allowed just 11 goals for a 0.54 goals against average, which ranked ninth in the country.
After keeping opponents out of the net for the last month of the season, Brett Ylonen was rewarded for his standout goalkeeping with third team honors. Ylonen is the youngest netminder and one of just four sophomores on the D3soccer.com All-America first, second, or third teams. An All-North Region First Team performer alongside Thompson, Ylonen finished the year with a save percentage of .896 (4th/NCAA) and a goals against average of 0.43 (6th/NCAA). He went 14-2-3 overall and recorded over 1,700 minutes in net.
Thompson and Ylonen are the only two players from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) to earn D3soccer.comm All-America accolades. The first, second, and third teams are each comprised of 11 players featuring three forwards, three midfielders, four defenders, and one goalkeeper.
It is the second year in a row that a member of Mike Middleton’s club has earned All-America honors from D3soccer.com. Last season, Justin Eglseder `12 was named to the first team after his exceptional season leading Gustavus’ defense.