Three Tartans Named Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Three Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer players have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Senior Ben Bryant (Toledo, Ohio/Ottawa Hills) and juniors Mike Ferraco (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) and Matt Sarett (Huntersville, N.C./Cannon) each earn the honor for the first time.
Carnegie Mellon is part of District 4 which is comprised of all Division III schools in the state of Pennsylvania. All three now move on to the national ballot for Capital One Academic All-America recognition.
Bryant is a senior defender in his third playing season and is currently second on the team in points (21) with five goals and 11 assists. He has scored two game winners and assisted on five others. Off the field, Bryant carries a 3.62 GPA in chemistry and Hispanic studies and minors in biomedical engineering and business administration. For two summers he worked at University of Pittsburgh's and University of Toledo's School's of Medicine and has shadowed an orthopedic surgeon in a clinic and operating room. Bryant also works as an assistant in multiple academic departments on campus. He is a member of Phi Sigma Iota (Foreign Language Honor Society), Student-Athlete Advisory Council and Health Professions Program. Additionally, Bryant serves on the Academic Review Board, has been a part of an A Cappella group on campus and served as the Co-President of the Carnegie Mellon "Best Buddies" chapter, a non-profit outreach organization that creates opportunities for relationships, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ferraco is a two-year starter who has scored three goals and assisted on one this season with a career total of seven goals. The junior holds a 3.74 GPA in information systems and minors in computer science and global systems and management. Last summer, Ferraco worked as an IT Sourcing Intern for General Electric Information Technology Leadership Program. He is a career peer mentor and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, volunteers for Hooked on Books, reading to children, and FCA World Vision Volunteer Day. He also works as a recreational soccer referee in Pittsburgh and teaches youth soccer lessons.
Sarett is a three-year starter who has three goals and one assist this season and was an All-University Athletic Association player as a freshman. Off the field, Sarett has a 4.0 GPA and is a double major in electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering. He is also pursuing a minor in business administration and computer science. This past summer Sarett worked at McGuire Nuclear Station on the Cyber Security Assessment Team and works as a biological research student and course assistant for principles of computing, teaching students on campus. He is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, CMU Odyssey Program and will be inducted into Eta Kappa Nu Electrical & Computer Engineering Honors Society and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society this semester.
The Tartans are currently 12-2-1 overall and ranked 6th in the nation. They will host Emory University for the regular season finale Saturday, November 2. With a win or a tie, the Tartans will be UAA Champions for the seventh time in program history.