GREENWOOD, Ind. (11/16/22) – Shortly after receiving awards for their performances on the field, the Franklin Pierce University men's soccer program was rewarded for their efforts in the classroom, having five student-athletes earn Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC), as announced late last week. The recipients were named to the Academic All-District I First Team, with a list compiled of senior Kosta Maniatis (Montreal, Quebec), graduate student Jonas Cervera Anchel (Chiva, Spain), and juniors Bernardo Prego (Evora, Portugal), Vicente Valor Martinez (San Juan, Spain) and Rodrigo Vaza (Torres Verdes, Portugal). As a result of their selection, all will advance to the Academic All-America ballot.

Eligibility for selection states that a student-athlete must own a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point average or higher, be at least a sophomore in academic standing and be a starter or significant contributor athletically. The Academic All-District and All-America teams are voted on by sports information directors in the district and nation, respectively.

Maniatis is the only listed Raven to have earned the honor for a second time, previously receiving Academic All-District accolades last season.

Maniatis, as a repeat NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year, has posted a cumulative 3.70 GPA as an accounting major. Between the posts this season, Maniatis has had a career year with Franklin Pierce, totaling 1506:08 minutes played with 16 starts, during which time the senior keeper has gone 16-0-1 with a .773 save percentage. Maniatis has allowed five goals with a career-best 12 shutouts, and his 0.30 goals against average this season is currently the third best in DII Men's Soccer.

Cervera Anchel, who has received both NE10 and D2CCA First Team recognition this season, holds a 3.74 GPA as a graduate student with the Ravens, pursuing an MBA in sports management. In 22 starts this season, the Pierce midfielder currently ranks fifth nationally in total assists (14), additionally contributing seven goals for 28 points.

Junior Bernardo Prego, following the Ravens' victory in the NE10 title game, was named the recipient of the conference's annual Elite-24 Award for the having highest cumulative GPA as a participant at the finals. As a marketing major, Prego currently holds the highest GPA on the team, with a 3.76 mark. In 21 starts this season, Prego chalked up five assists with 9 shot attempts.

Along with Prego, juniors Vicente Valor Martinez and Rodrigo Vaza also made the cut as First Team honorees by the NE10 this season, with each holding a 3.70 and 3.66 GPA respectively. Martinez, a sport and recreation management major, has started on the field in all 22 contests this season for the Ravens, collecting 18 points on five goals and eight assists. Vaza, who majors in business, has started in 17 of 19 games this season, posting nine points on four goals with one assist.

Academic All-America teams for men's soccer are slated to be announced on Wednesday, December 7^th.