Kansas City – Gustavus Adolphus junior forward Zach Brown (Eau Claire, Wis.) can add another accolade to his growing list of accomplishments. On the 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of American/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men’s All-American Team released Friday, Dec. 13, Brown earned a spot as one of five forwards on the second team. The senior striker was most recently named to the NSCAA All-North Region First Team, receiving All-Region honors for the second straight year.
“Congratulations to Zach – an award that he can be proud of for the rest of his life,” said Head Coach Mike Middleton. “Zach is a strong, dynamic player who is always a threat to any defense. His running off the ball is excellent, his movement is developing all the time, and his decision-making in possession is first class. He is dynamic, tough as nails, and quick as a whippet, which makes him a defender’s worst nightmare. He’s a monster to such an extant that he scares me and I only have to watch him from the side-line!”
Mike Middleton’s key striker on a team that averaged 2.11 goals per game and allowed just 0.63 goals, Zach Brown posted a total of 24 points off 10 goals and 4 assists this season. Brown has been the team’s top scorer in each of his first three seasons, tallying 28 points (12G, 4A) as a rookie and 31 points (14G, 3A) as a sophomore.
Following the regular season, Brown followed in the footsteps of Scott Crowell (2000), Joe Hartwell (2004), Bobby Kroog (2005), and Mike Butterworth (2007) by becoming the fifth player in Gustavus men’s soccer history to be named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Year. The Eau Claire, Wis. product did his damage in league play his junior year, tallying 21 points off of a league-best nine goals to go along with three assists. All five of his game-winning goals this season came within league play, helping the Gusties to outright ownership of the MIAC regular season title after going a perfect 10-0-0.
The Gusties reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and tenth time in team history. The Gusties defeated St. Scholastica 2-1 in the opening round of the tournament before seeing their season come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Westminster in the second round.
“Rich praise has to be given to all the lad, who will only be thoroughly delighted for Zach,” Middleton said. “Without them he could not have achieved this individual honor. His main strike partner Ryan Tollefsrud took so much attention from Zach with his bright and clever movement, Patrick Roth as a freshman constantly pushed Zach to improve at every practice and every game, and the most praise should be for Konnor Tranoris, whose ability on the ball and overall game-sense helped Zach to push on to the next level. This recognition for Zach is really a recognition of all the lads’ hard-work, drive, and determination.”
Playing in a total of 57 matches over his three-year collegiate career, Brown has solidified himself as one of the top goal-scorers in the rich history of the Gustavus men’s soccer program. The two-time all-conference honoree ranks fifth in program history in goals scored alongside Bobby Kroog with 36. To go along with 11 assists, Brown’s 83 career points rank him fifth all-time. Sitting ahead of him in scoring is Pachi Lopez who scored 94 points over his career.
Zach Brown goes down as the eighth NSCAA All-American from Gustavus. He follows in the footsteps of former All-Americans Todd Anderson (3rd Team – 1994), Scott Crowell (1st Team – 2000), Adam MacLeod-Roth (2nd Team – 2002), Joe Hartwell (1st Team – 2004), Bobby Kroog (2nd Team – 2003, 3rd Team – 2004, 3rd Team – 2005), Mike Butterworth (3rd Team – 2007), and Lucas Thompson (3rd Team – 2012).
“Being selected to the All-America team is a wonderful accolade and a richly deserved,” concluded Middleton. “Zach is a lovely lad – softly spoken and unassuming. I’m sure he was somewhat embarrassed by all the attention when he was named the MIAC Player of the Year, and now it will be even worse as an NSCAA All-America selection. I’m sure he will cherish this honor not only in the present but particularly in years to come. I have to say that I am as pleased as punch.”