Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Junior defender Matt Besler helped the Irish post 11 shutouts during the 2007 season.

 
Miller And Besler Named NSCAA All-Scholars

Miller a first-team selection, while Besler named to second team.

Dec. 29, 2007

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - University of Notre Dame men's soccer players Ryan Miller (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) and Matt Besler (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley West) have been named to the 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas Men's Scholar All-America Team. Miller was selected to the first team, while Besler was a second-team member.

Miller, a fifth-year senior defender, has received several accolades during his final campaign in a Notre Dame uniform. He was tabbed as a second-team All-American by the NSCAA in addition to receiving second-team Academic All-America honors from ESPN the Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He also earned his first all-conference honor as he was a unanimous first-team selection.

This season, Miller notched career-best numbers in goals with six and points with 16. Both of those numbers ranked him second on the team. Miller's steady presence on the pitch was also on display over the past four seasons. After suffering a season-ending injury during his freshman campaign, Miller returned to the starting lineup the following season and stayed there over the course of the next 89 matches, which is a Notre Dame record.

Miller graduated from the Mendoza College of Business in May 2007 with a degree in accounting. He finished his undergraduate studies with a 3.41 cumulative grade-point average. Miller is currently pursuing a master's degree in accounting.

Besler, a junior central defender, was a solid force in the backline this season as the Fighting Irish posted a 14-5-5 record and advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals for the second straight season. The Notre Dame defense was responsible for 11 shutouts during the year. Besler racked up six points on two goals and two assists. Those totals were all career-high matching figures.

For the second consecutive season, Besler was a second-team all-BIG EAST selection. He was also named to the All-Great Lakes Region second team. The junior carries a 3.39 cumulative GPA as a pre-professional studies and anthropology major in the College of Arts and Letters.

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