Three men who have been instrumental in the success of the men's soccer team at the University of Rochester this year have now been recognized for their work off the field as well.
 
Senior goalkeeper Redd Brown, junior defender Nik Angyal, and junior midfielder Bryce Ikeda have been elected Academic All-District III First Team by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America. As First Team honorees, they now advance to the national ballot for consideration as Academic All-Americans. District III is comprised solely of colleges and universities in New York State.
 
Rochester was 11-3-3 in the regular season, 4-2-1 in the University Athletic Association (tied for third place). The Yellowjackets will compete in the NCAA Division III men's soccer playoffs this weekend at SUNY Oneonta. Rochester will play Connecticut College at 1:30 pm at Oneonta. The opening game – at 11 am – matches host Oneonta against WPI.
 
UR and Conn College were both Pool C (at-large) entries into the tournament. Rochester is one of four teams from the UAA (three were at-large). This is UR's 18^th Division III playoff bid, its fifth in the last six seasons. Conn College is 9-3-4 overall (4-2-4 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference). It is the second NCAA playoff appearance for Conn College, its first since 1995. Five NESCAC teams made the tournament – four at-large.
 
Brown (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks West) posted nine shutouts this season. In 1,561:43, he allowed 13 goals and made 45 saves for a 0.75 GAA and a .776 save percentage. In the month of October, he allowed one goal in six matches – and that goal coming after five straight shutouts. Four of the shutouts came against UAA competition. He earned Second Team All-UAA honors.
 
He has a cumulative GPA of 3.78 on a 4.00 scale carrying a double major of economics and religion. He is a research assistant in the political science department and did an internship with an investment bank in New York City named Moelis & Co. He volunteers for the international refugee school in downtown Rochester titled Rochester International Academy.
 
Angyal (Stormville, NY/John Jay-East Fishkill) [pronounced ANGEL] started 16 games and played in all 17 this season. As a defender, he was a crucial part of the back line that helped to post the nine shutouts and hold five other teams to one goal. He was voted the Most Valuable Defensive Player of Rochester's opening Flower City Soccer Classic when the Yellowjackets shut out Illinois Wesleyan University (2-0) and defeated Misericordia University (2-1).
 
He has a cumulative GPA of 4.00 (on the 4.00 scale), majoring in chemical engineering. He is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and will be inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, at the end of this semester. He is in his second year as a teaching assistant for Organic Chemistry and will be a teaching assisting for Fluid Dynamics in the spring. Last summer, he interned with the New York State Department of  Environmental Conservation in the Petroleum Spills Division. Working under a NY State-licensed professional engineer, Angyal reviewed site investigation reports, work plans, and closure reports for petroleum spill sites with contaminated soil and/or groundwater.  He either approved the reports or suggested additional steps be taken in the clean-up of the spills.
 
He volunteers at the Rochester International Academy as well, going into classrooms on a bi-weekly basis in the off-season to help teachers with small group activities and to interact with kids. He volunteers at home with his local soccer club in Dutchess County.
 
Ikeda (Tacoma, WA/Stadium) [pronounced eye-KEE-dah] enters the NCAA playoffs as Rochester's second-leading scorer. He has five goals and three assists for 13 points. He is one of just six players to start all 17 games. In his career, he has started 47 games and played in all 50. He earned Second Team All-UAA honors this season.
 
He has a cumulative 3.74 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) majoring in electrical & computer engineering. Last summer, he interned with Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation in Pittsburgh, doing engineering projects on submarines. He helped to raise money for new equipment for a Special Olympics soccer team, and like his teammates, volunteers at the Rochester International Academy tutoring elementary aged school children. He serves the University as a Student Alumni Ambassador, which entails connecting the current students with alumni and assisting with alumni events.