SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon senior Chris Thomas and Furman
sophomore Walker Zimmerman were named to the Soccer America MVPs Second Team,
it was announced on the publication’s website on Monday.
Thomas, a Snellville, Ga., native, added to his long list of
postseason accolades after his prolific 2012 campaign in which he led the
nation and set a program single-season record in total goals (23) and points
(51). The senior striker also had nine game-winners on the year to help the
Phoenix to a 15-5-2 overall mark and capture both the SoCon regular-season and
tournament titles for the first time in the same season and return to the NCAA tournament
for the second consecutive year.
The two-time SoCon Player of the Year and two-time
all-league first-team pick was named an All-American by both the NSCAA and
College Soccer News and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist this season. He
also earned a spot on the All-South Region First Team and Top Drawer Soccer’s
Team of the Season.
Thomas was one of 54 players invited to the 2013 MLS Combine
in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that runs from Jan. 11-15, prior to the 2013 MLS SuperDraft
on Jan. 17, in Indianapolis, Ind. The draft is set to begin at 12 p.m. ET and
will air on the ESPN family of networks. Thomas is projected as a first-round
pick in a number of online publications’ mock drafts.
Zimmerman, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga., scored six goals
and added three assists while guiding the Paladins to a 12-4-3 record during
the 2012 season. The 6-foot-3 center
back netted the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Florida International
and led Furman to a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Clemson with a
game-tying goal in the second half.
He was among four college underclassmen to ink a Generation
adidas contract last week and will be eligible for selection in the 2013 MLS
SuperDraft. Zimmerman, who was selected
to the College Soccer News All-American First Team, NSCAA All-American Second
Team and Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Season, joined Louisville’s Andrew
Farrell, North Carolina’s Mikey Lopez and VCU’s Jason Johnson in signing a
contract.
The defender and two-time All-SoCon pick captured third-team
NSCAA All-America honors in 2011, as Furman reached the NCAA tournament. He has been a regular starter for the United
States U-20 National Team during 2012 and is expected to battle for a spot in
the starting 11 as the U-20s begin qualification in February for the 2013
Under-20 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Soccer America’s MVPs were introduced in 1976 and honor the
players who have had the biggest impact on their team’s success, regardless of
position.
MVPs First Team
GK Andre Blake (Connecticut), Jr.
D Chad Barson (Akron), Sr.
F Ashton Bennett (Coastal Carolina), Sr.
MF Scott Caldwell (Akron), Sr.
D Andrew Farrell (Louisville), Jr.
F Ryan Finley (Notre Dame), Sr.
MF Jose Gomez (Creighton), Sr.
MF Mikey Lopez (North Carolina), So.
F Patrick Mullins (Maryland), Jr.
F Steve Neumann (Georgetown), Jr.
F Eriq Zavaleta (Indiana), So.
MVPs Second Team
GK Scott Goodwin (North Carolina), Sr.
MF Carlos Alvarez (Connecticut), Sr.
MF Connor Brandt (San Diego), So.
D Joe Franco (Cal State Northridge), Sr.
F Daniel Haber (Cornell), Jr.
MF Jack McVey (Fairleigh Dickinson), Sr.
MF Dillon Powers (Notre Dame), Sr.
D Andrew Ribeiro (Creighton), Sr.
F Devon Sandoval (New Mexico), Sr.
F Chris Thomas (Elon), Sr.
F Gyasi Zardes (CSU Bakersfield), Jr.
D Walker Zimmerman (Furman), So.