William Birchard Earns All-America Honors from D3soccer.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer sophomore defender William Birchard earned a spot on the D3soccer.com All-America third team, the website announced today.

Birchard earned the honor after a spectacular sophomore season, when he had a big part in the the success for CMS on both sides of the ball. As an outside back, Birchard took most of the team's set pieces and led the Stags in scoring with six goals and five assists.

In addition to his numbers, Birchard also came through in the clutch, closing out the regular season with two big goals to give the Stags the regular season SCIAC title. He scored off a free kick in the 83rd minute of a 1-0 win over Redlands in a battle for first place with just two games left to play. Needing one last result at Occidental to secure the first-place finish, he came through again with a penalty kick in overtime for another 1-0 win. 

As a defender, Birchard was part of a unit that led the nation in goals against average (0.21), allowing only four goals the entire season. CMS began the season with eight straight shutouts, the longest single-season streak in school history, and then ended it with six more shutouts in a row to take over the national lead statistically at the conclusion of the year.  

CMS ended the year 15-2-1 and ranked in the national top 25 by United Soccer Coaches. Birchard (first team), junior defender Adam Singer (second team) and senior midfielder Aidan Johnson (third team) earned All-West Region honors from United Soccer Coaches as well. 

To view the complete D3soccer.com All-America teams, go to the following link: 

D3soccer All-America