For the second straight season, senior goalkeeper Matt Makowski has been named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, conference officials announced Wednesday. Additionally, American has also earned three Academic All-Patriot League selections -- Makowski, Michael Roberts, and Colin Seigfreid -- the most in the conference for the second year in a row.
Makowski, a Quakertown, Pa., native makes Patriot League history as the third back-to-back Scholar-Athlete honoree, joining a pair of Bucknell student-athletes on the exclusive list. The Bison's Greg Beatty (1993-94) and Jonathan Hemmert (2003-04) are the only two multiple winners since the league formed in 1990. Last year, Makowski joined Adam Rosen (2001) as Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners from American.
Makowski has recorded a 3.94 GPA as a Biology major, navigating many of AU's toughest courses, such as Organic Chemistry 1 & 2, University Physics 1 & 2, Vertebrate Physiology, Genetics, and Cell Biology. Following last school year, was recognized as American University's "Outstanding Honors Junior" for his academic work, and this year, he has been one of the university's two Rhodes Scholar nominees. Earlier this season, he was one of the 30 candidates selected for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in men's soccer. This past summer, he studied 3-D Visualization of Virus Host Interactions in Viral Pathogenesis and Evolution at the Medical Campus of Penn State Hershey.
He has earned Dean's List honors in five semesters, and has been a Patriot League Academic Honor Roll selection in all three of his eligible years. In the fall 2008 semester, he was one of four Patriot League men's soccer student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 GPA. He also posted 4.0 GPAs in the spring 2010 and spring 2011 terms.
On the field, Makowski has been a four-year starter at goal, where he has helped the Eagles record a 17-7-4 record in Patriot League play with 18 career shutouts. He was the 2008 Patriot League Rookie of the Year and a 2010 All-Patriot League Second Team honoree. Makowski has been instrumental in AU's back-to-back appearances in the PL Championship Game along with its two conference regular season titles during the span.
Roberts joins Makowski on the Academic All-Patriot League Team for the second straight season. Hailing from Rowlett, Texas, the senior defender carries a 3.85 cumulative GPA as a Physics major. The Honors student has earned four Dean's List honors as well as a perfect 4.0 semester last fall. This season, he has been also honored on the Capital One Academic All-District First Team.
On the field, Roberts has been a key contributor on the defensive unit over the last four years. Last season, he was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year on two occasions. For his career, he has appeared in 46 matches with 33 starts.
Seigfreid also earns Academic All-Patriot League recognition as the only sophomore on the squad. Academically, the Pittsburgh, Pa., native has registered a 3.61 cumulative GPA with a Dean's List honor last spring semester.
On the field, Seigfreid has started 18 of 19 matches this season and leads the Patriot League with six assists. In his two seasons at American, the midfielder has played in 37 matches with 22 starts, and has helped the Eagles to an 8-4-2 mark in Patriot League play over the span.
AU's three honorees on the Academic All-PL Team mark the second straight year that the Eagles have led the conference in selections. In the two-year history of the award, AU has six total selections, Bucknell has five, Army has four, and no other program has more than three.
Patriot League Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Matt Makowski, Sr., American
Academic All-Patriot League Team in Men's Soccer
Matt Makowski, American, Sr.
Michael Roberts, American, Sr.
Colin Seigfreid, American, So.
Tanner Robertson, Army, Sr.
Mitch Johnson, Army, Jr.
Tommy Caso, Bucknell, Sr.
Ryan Sappington, Bucknell, Sr.
Brendan Burgdorf, Bucknell, Jr.
Graham Heydt, Lafayette, Sr.
Blake Fink, Lafayette, Jr.
Sam Miller, Navy, Sr.
