After being named a Scholar All-Region selection earlier in the week, Eric Schoendorf (Delafield, Wis./Catholic Memorial), a senior on the Loyola University Chicago men’s soccer team, has been recognized as a College Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), it was announced on Thursday. Schoendorf, who landed on the Third Team, is the first student-athlete in program history to earn Scholar All-America honors from the organization.

“This is an outstanding achievement and honor for Eric,” Loyola head men’s soccer coach Neil Jones said. “Every one of our Men’s Soccer student-athletes and coaching staff members would also agree that this honor is richly deserved.”

Schoendorf was a fixture in the lineup all season long for Jones’ team, starting in all 18 of the games that he saw action in. Out of Delafield, Wis., he captained a Loyola defense that allowed a Valley-low eight goals. The Ramblers finished the year with a sparkling 0.39 goals against average that shattered the previous single-season program record in the category and ranked first in both the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) and nationally in Division I.

A two-time First Team All-Valley selection, Schoendorf was recognized as the conference’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year at the end of the regular season, becoming the first student-athlete in league history to collect both honors in the same year. Earlier in December, he earned Second Team All-West Region accolades from the NSCAA for the second straight season.

Away from the pitch, Schoendorf holds a 3.747 cumulative grade-point average as an Accounting and Finance double major.

“This award not only recognizes Eric as being one of the premier soccer players in the country, but also acknowledges all of Eric’s hard work and dedication in the classroom,” Jones concluded. “I firmly believe that this is one of the most prestigious awards in college soccer. I am extremely proud of Eric.”

To be nominated, student-athletes must be junior standing or above, have a cumulative grade point average of better than a 3.30, start more than 50 percent of all games, and be a significant contributor to the team.