Nov. 18, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Three South Carolina men's soccer players have garnered ESPN Academic All-America honors, as senior goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer was named to the first team, and classmates Blake Brettschneider and Will Traynor garnered third-team selections. To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his current institution.

Maurer earns Academic All-America honors for the second time in his career, as he was a second-team selection in 2009. He enters NCAA Tournament action with a 1.08 goals against average and eight shutouts on the year, while Maurer also collected the first two assists of his career during the regular season. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native owns 27 career shutouts, which ranks second all-time in South Carolina history. He was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team and was a Conference USA All-Academic Team selection.

Brettschneider's selection is the first of his career. The Conference USA Co-MVP and Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Brettschneider leads South Carolina with seven goals and nine assists, also a C-USA best, with 23 points thus far in 2010. The Lilburn, Ga., native tallied at least one point in each C-USA regular-season contest, while he also scored goals versus UAB and No. 5 SMU in postseason tournament play. Brettschneider enters NCAA Tournament action with 19 career goals and 16 assists. He was named to the All-Conference USA First Team, and was a Conference USA All-Academic Team and All-Tournament Team selection.

Traynor's selection is also the first of his career. A member of the Conference USA All-Tournament Team, Traynor has been a mainstay in the starting lineup throughout his career. His six goals in 2010 is a career best, while he has helped South Carolina secure eight shutouts in contests he has played. Traynor has scored two game-winning goals in 2010, at then-No. 5 Tulsa in October, and most recently, in Carolina's 2-1 win over then-No. 5 SMU in the C-USA Tournament semifinals. He was named to the All-Conference USA First Team and was a Conference USA All-Academic Team selection.

South Carolina will host the winner of the Coastal Carolina vs. Duke contest on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks have earned the No. 7 national seed in the event. Continue to visit GamecocksOnline.com for NCAA Tournament updates.

ESPN Academic All-America of the Year: Kofi Sarkodie, Akron

(1) ESPN Academic All-America 1st Team in 2009
(2) ESPN Academic All-America 2nd Team in 2009
(3) ESPN Academic All-America 3rd Team in 2009