December 21, 2011
Three earn NSCAA academic honors
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Three Grove City College men's soccer players earned College Division Scholar All-East Region from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Junior defender Josh Kern (Fairfield, Pa./Fairfield) earned Second Team Scholar All-Region. Seniors Tim Boswell (Jonesborough, Tenn./Providence Academy) and Brian Eckenhoff (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape) both earned Honorable Mention All-Region.
Kern moved into the starting lineup this year and helped lead a defense that posted six shutouts and yielded just eight goals in conference play. He started all 19 matches, contributing to Grove City's 1.23 goals-against average this year. He earned First Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference recognition from the league's head coaches following the season.
Last week, he earned NSCAA Second Team All-Great Lakes Region recognition. Kern appeared in 16 matches as a reserve forward in 2010. He moved to defender prior to this season.
Kern has a 3.56 grade-point average while majoring in entrepreneurship. He has achieved Dean's List honors along with a spot on the PAC Academic Honor Roll. Kern has also been inducted into the Delta Mu Delta honorary.
Eckenhoff played in all 19 matches for Grove City and made 10 starts. He scored one goal and added an assist while also helping the defense record six shutouts. He played in 61 straight matches and helped Grove City reach the 2011 ECAC Championship Tournament for the second straight season.
A three-year letterman, Eckenhoff co-captained the 2011 squad and helped the Wolverines advance to the finals of the 2010 ECAC Tournament.
Eckenhoff owns a 3.98 GPA as a business management major. He has earned Dean's List honors, along with placement on the conference's Academic Honor Roll. He has earned the Presidential Scholarship and is president of both Omicron Delta Kappa and the College's chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Boswell started all 19 matches for the Wolverines this year and scored four goals. A two-year letterman, Boswell became a full-time starter this fall and co-captained the squad with Eckenhoff.
He has achieved a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in molecular biology. Boswell is a Dean's List student who has also been named to the Presidents' Athletic Conference Academic Honor Roll. Boswell has also received the College's Presidential Scholarship and earned induction into the Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa honoraries.
Boswell and Eckenhoff both earned Capital One Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) following the 2011 season. Eckenhoff earned Second Team honors and Boswell landed on the Third Team. Kern received Second Team All-District distinction from CoSIDA.
Grove City (12-6-1 overall, 6-1-1 PAC) tied for second in the conference during regular season play and qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Championship Tournament.