KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The United Soccer Coaches announced the association’s NCAA Division III Men’s Scholar All-America Teams on Friday, with Matt Murakami (Sr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) earning Second Team honors.
Student-athletes receiving Scholar All-America recognition at these levels meet the following criteria:
- 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) or better throghout career
- Started more than 50 percent of all games and significantly contribute to their team
- Nominated by head coach of current College Services member institution
- Junior or above in academic standing; and, if a transfer student, in second year at school
Recently named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-North/Central Region First Team and All-North Region Second Team, the two-time MIAC All-Conference and Academic All-Conference appeared in all but one game for the Gusties during the 2017 season, starting in each game played while guiding the midfield. A Financial Economics major with a 3.58 grade point average, Murakami scored four goals and three assists for 11 points on the season, finishing as the third-leading scorer on the team. On Oct. 2, Murakami earned MIAC Player of the Week honors after tallying three goals in two games in road victories at St. Olaf and Augsburg. The Gustie co-captain also tallied 27 shots (17 shots on goal), and one game-winner.
In addition, Murakami, Davis Petros (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.), and Matt Bateman (Jr., Savage, Minn.) were recently named to the Scholar All-North/Central Region Team, receiving First Team, Second Team, and Third Team honors, respectively.
Petros, a 2017 MIAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree and 2016 Academic All-Conference recipient owns a 3.71 GPA as a Financial Economics and Mathematics major. Petros started in 17 games as a steady defender for the Gustie squad that limited its opponents to 0.95 goals per game.
Bateman, a Public Accounting major with a 3.67 GPA, started all 19 games in net for the Gusties, finishing as one of the top goalkeepers in the MIAC. His 72 saves stood as the second most in the conference, while he posted and .800 save percentage (3rd/MIAC), a 0.97 goals against average (T-4th/MIAC), and six shutouts (T-3rd/MIAC).