AUSTIN, TEXAS – Cal State LA's Samuel Croucher has added another big academic honor to his impressive resume.
 
Croucher was named as part of the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America Division II Men's Soccer Team announced on Wednesday. The award is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Croucher was one of 11 players to earn second-team Academic All-America honors.
 
The Division II Academic All-America program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Twenty-five of the 34 members of the Academic All-America Division II Men's Soccer teams have at least a 3.80 grade point average and Croucher was one of nine student-athletes to have a 4.00 GPA.
 
The Division II Academic All-America program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2018-19 Division II Academic All-America teams program.
 
Previously, Croucher and junior forward Robin Lindahl earned CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first team honors, which made them eligible for the Academic All-America recognition. Cal State LA's men's soccer program, under the direction of Chris Chamides, has now been honored with CoSIDA All-District honors in seven of the past eight seasons, including five Academic All-Americans.
 
"This is a great honor for Sam and our program," Chamides said. "No one deserves it more than Sam. He was a team captain and he brought so much to our program both on and off the field. I'm very happy for him."
 
Croucher also won the California Collegiate Athletic Association's Men's Soccer Championship Scholar Award last month. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in finance and carries a 4.0 grade point average.
 
Croucher was the only men's soccer player from the CCAA to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and just one of four from the West Region. Seattle Pacific's Luke Postma also earned second-team honors, while Seattle Pacific's Travis Swallow and Point Loma's Wiktor Lasota both earned third-team honors.
 
Croucher was a team captain in 2018 as successfully returned after missing the entire 2017 season due to injury. He had one assist and was a key contributor on defense from his midfield position.
 
He helped the Golden Eagles capture a second straight CCAA Tournament championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Cal State LA finished its season with a 15-3-3 overall record.
 
"Sam is one of those rare individuals who is well-rounded not only athletically, but also academically," said Melissa Basalla, Academic Advisor for Student Athletes in the University Academic Advisement Center at Cal State LA. "He makes it look effortless although I know he works exceptionally hard to achieve good grades. He has always been one of my strongest advisees and a true leader, someone to follow the example of and emulate. It is no surprise to me that he has received such a prestigious award."
 
The award is the 14^th all-time for Cal State LA. Ingvar Moseley earned first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors last spring for track and field. Christie Lau (women's tennis) is the lone student-athlete to earn two after picking up second-team honors in 2012 and 2013. Other previous winners include Robert Briglia (men's cross country/track and field, third team, 1987), Marisol Cossio (women's cross country/track and field, third team, 1995), Kasey Jungwirth (women's volleyball, first team, 2000), Sergio Cedano (men's soccer, third team, 2011), Waleed Cassis (men's soccer, third team, 2012), Lisa Ohberg (women's track/cross country, third team, 2013), Dane Nielsen (men's soccer, second team, 2014), Shane Panther (men's soccer, second team, 2014), Heather Williams (women's soccer, third team, 2014) and Iona Lofrano (women's volleyball, second team, 2015).