Six from ODAC Schools Earn USC All-American Recognition

Six from ODAC Schools Earn USC All-American Recognition

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --- The United Soccer Coaches (USC) announced their annual end of season men's soccer awards on Thursday afternoon in prelude to the 2021 NCAA Division III semifinals and championship in Greensboro, N.C., this weekend. Six ODAC stars garnered recognition as Division III All-Americans.

Randolph College forward Evan Blow and Washington and Lee University centerback Jack Rawlins were tabbed to the 16-player All-America First Team. University of Lynchburg forward Luke Mega was joined on the All-American Second Team by the Generals' midfield duo of Samuel Bass and Michael Kutsanzira. Virginia Wesleyan University goalkeeper Griffin Potter took up position on the All-America Third Team.

The All-America release comes on the heels of the USC announcing its Division III All-Region Awards on Monday. The six All-Americans highlight a large group of 14 standouts from ODAC members that earned recognition on one of three award teams in Region VI.

UNITED SOCCER COACHES ALL-REGION VI | ODAC HONOREES

  • First Team (7): Griffin Potter, VWU (GK); Joe Carman, RC (D); Jack Rawlins, W&L (D); Samuel Bass, W&L (M); Michael Kutsanzira, W&L (M); Evan Blow, RAND (F); Luke Mega, LYN (F)
  • Second Team (4): Seth Chapman, W&L (D); Joey Daly, LYN (D); Dylan Berk, RC (M) Noah Carney, RAND (F)
  • Third Team (3): Elijah Lloyd, R-MC (D); Bhayle Kearns, LYN (M); Alex Moody, VWU (M)

RELATED: 2021 USC All-American Awards | 2021 USC All-Region Awards

Blow adds his All-American honor to a pair of ODAC Player of the Year nods over the past two seasons. He is the second All-American in Randolph men's soccer program history, joining former standout Corey Sindle's recognition in 2013. Blow set Randolph single-season records with 44 points and 18 goals scored, topping the marks previously set by Sindle. With W&L still active in the NCAA Tournament, Blow is leading the ODAC in both categories, while his eight assists are tied for second in the league. He scored a goal in 14-of-19 games played with at least one point in 15 contests. He is credited with scoring six game-winning goals, which includes the conversion of a penalty kick in double-overtime at top-seeded Washington and Lee in the ODAC semifinals. For his career, Blow has racked up 94 points on 37 goals and 20 assists.

Washington and Lee's trio of Rawlins, Bass, and Kutsanzira represents a program record as this marks the first time three Generals have earned All-America recognition in the same season. Each are first team All-Americans with their eyes set on a national championship. W&L takes on Connecticut College on Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. ET at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C., in the semifinals.

RELATED: W&L vs. Conn. College Links -- Video | Stats

Rawlins, who is the second first team All-American in program history joining Dylan ritch in 2019, has been a strong component for the Generals' back line that has yielded a 0.78 goals-against average across 21 games this season. In addition, Rawlins has two goals on the offensive end, scoring once each in wins over N.C. Wesleyan on September 10 and then 15th-ranked Christopher Newport on September 24. Rawlins earned his third all-region accolade this season and also claimed his fourth straight First Team All-ODAC honor this season, the first player for the program to earn four first team all-conference accolades since Mikel Parker '99.

In 21 starts this season, Bass is tied for second in the ODAC in assists (8), third in points (32), and fifth in goals scored (12). Bass has at least one point in 13 contests this season and multiple points in 11 games. Bass is also now a two-time all-region and three-time All-ODAC performer, with two first team citations, and he earned CoSIDA Academic All-District laurels this season as well.

Kutsanzira has had a record-setting junior season to earn his first All-America accolade. In 21 starts this year, Kutsanzira has a team- and ODAC-high 13 assists, which is also a program record. His 13 assists are also tied for the fourth-most in Division III. Kutsanzira has added seven goals for a total of 27 points, and he has recorded at least one point in 14 games this season, including all four NCAA Tournament games so far. Kutsanzira earned his first all-region citation this season and his second All-ODAC award as well.

Mega is the 13th All-America honoree in Lynchburg men's soccer history. The most recent Hornets honoree was goalkeeper Dylan McLaurin in 2018. He is the first Lynchburg forward to earn a spot on the highest team since John Toutkaldjian in 1982. Mega is fourth in the ODAC in points (29) and tied for third in goals scored (13). He netted the game-winner in extra-time in the ODAC championship game, converting a penalty kick in the 102nd minute to secure the Hornets' 18th league crown. He also registerd a hat trick in the quarterfinals against Shenandoah University.

Potter ends an 18-year gap since the last time a Virginia Wesleyan men's soccer standout received All-American plaudits. He is the 10th player to earn All-America status in Marlins team history, but the first since Kelvin Murray claimed back-to-back laurels in 2002 and 2003. Potter made 19 starts guarding VWU's net and posted an 11-4-4 record with nine shutouts. He leads the ODAC and is sixth nationally with 132 saves and a .880 save percentage. He is fifth in goals-against average (0.91).