Nov. 2, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Three members of the Penn State men's soccer team, seniors Andy Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.), Andres Casais (Caracas, Venezuela), and Drew Cost (West Chester, Pa.), have been selected to CoSIDA/ESPN Academic Academic All-District II Teams in recognition of their standout efforts on the soccer field and in the classroom. Parr was named to the first team while Casais and Cost earned second team honors.
Parr, Casais, and Cost each maintain exceptional grade point averages in his chosen field of study, continuing the Penn State men's soccer tradition of academic excellence. In total, Nittany Lions have been named to academic all-region/district or All-America teams on 31 occasions. For Parr, the district honor is the second of his career after earning second team recognition in 2009.
An integral part of Penn State's defensive efforts throughout his time in Happy Valley, Andy Parr has served as a steadying force on the Nittany Lion back line in the second half of the 2010 season. Playing in all 16 games to date, starting nine, including the last seven consecutive, he has contributed to five shutouts and 10 wins. After standout performances in wins over Villanova and then-No. 18 Michigan State, Parr was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Overcoming a serious knee injury that forced him from the field for a year and a half between his sophomore and junior seasons, he has seen action in 59 career games, making 48 starts.
Boasting a 3.90 grade point average, the 2009 Big Ten Distinguished Honors Scholar and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree will graduate in December with a degree in Actuarial Science.
With the first team academic all-district accolade, Parr advances to the national ballot and will have the opportunity to earn Academic All-America honors.
A cornerstone of the Penn State defense for the past four years, Andres Casais has started 12 of the 15 games in which he has appeared this season. First changing positions in the central defense in the preseason and then moving to left back later in the year, the 2010 team co-captain's sacrifice and leadership has paid dividends for the Nittany Lions, as they make a run for second straight NCAA Tournament bid. In 2009, Casais' standout play was recognized both at the conference and national levels in 2009, as he earned First Team All-Big Ten and Third Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region recognition. A 2010 candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, he has played in 64 career games, starting 60.
Also an accomplished student, Casais has earned a 3.53 grade point average and will graduate with a degree in Energy, Business, and Finance. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, he intends to dedicate his career to the pursuit and study of renewable energy.
A 2010 team co-captain, Drew Cost has been a major factor in the success of the Penn State attack this season from his central midfield spot. Starting all 14 games in which he has played, missing two games only due to a foot injury, he has helped the Nittany Lions emerge as one of the Big Ten's top offenses, totaling 34 goals and 39 assists (107 points) through 16 games. Cost ranks third on the team with a single season career-high five assists and fourth in points with nine. One of his two goals was a game winner, lifting Penn State to a key 1-0 victory over Villanova on Oct. 6. A starter of 63 games of the 72 in which he has appeared, the 2009 Second Team All-Big Ten selection has compiled 28 career points on nine goals and 10 assists.
An Economics major with a 3.49 grade point average, Cost was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2008 and 2009.
After a five-day lay off, No. 22 Penn State (10-5-1, 2-2-1), ranked No. 8 in the most recent RPI rankings, is back in action on Tuesday night, facing Lafayette (7-6-3) in Easton, Pa. in its non-conference finale. The Nittany Lions will then wrap up their 2010 regular season schedule later in the week when they travel to face Big Ten foe Wisconsin (2-12-2, 0-4-1) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison.
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PENN STATE TO HOST 2010 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
From November 11-14, Penn State will host the 2010 Big Ten Tournament at Jeffrey Field. The Nittany Lions have hosted the annual conference postseason event on three occasions, with the last coming in 2002. Call 814-865-5555 (Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) to order tickets or download a ticket order form