From Brandeis University Athletics
Brandeis University senior forward Tyler Savonen of Orleans, Mass., and junior defender Conor Lanahan of Avon, Conn., have been selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) Division III All-America team. Savonen was first-team selection, while Lanahan landed on the second team.
Savonen and Lanahan are the seventh and eighth players in Brandeis history to earn NSCAA All-America honors, with Savonen joining Kevin Healy '85 and Jim McCully '86 as the only first-teamers. It also marks the first time that Brandeis has had two NSCAA All-Americans in the same season.
"Both of these guys had tremendous seasons," said head coach Mike Coven. "I'm proud of what they and the whole team accomplished, and they are truly deserving of this honor."
Savonen became the fourth player in school history named MVP of the University Athletic Association. He finished second in the conference in goals (9) and points (21) this season. He scored three game-winning goals, fifth-most in the UAA, including a pair in conference games. Savonen finished his career ranked eighth on the Judges' career scoring list with 87 points and seventh with 35 goals. He was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American earlier this year.
Lanahan anchored a Judge defense that finished third in NCAA Division III with a school-record 0.38 goals-against average. The Judges allowed just nine goals in 23 contests and set another school record with 17 shutouts. Lanahan added a goal and an assist on the offensive end of the field. He was named UAA Defensive Player of the Week once during the season.
Brandeis finished 2014 with a 19-3-1 record, tying the school record for wins in a season. The Judges reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III tournament with wins over Husson (3-0) and Bowdoin (1-0) at home, and a penalty-kick shootout against Amherst in the Sweet 16 (0-0, 6-5 PKs) before falling to Oneonta State in the Elite Eight. They were also one of only two teams to defeat eventual national champions Tufts University during the regular season, handing the Jumbos a 2-0 defeat on Sept. 20. In Coven's 42nd season, the Judges were ranked No. 6 in the final NSCAA Division III poll.