Austin, Texas - Senior goalkeeper Jesper Malmstrom of LIU Post headlines the 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division II Men's Soccer Team as the Academic All-America of the Year selection. In addition, Harry Pearse of LIU Post and Nicola Worthington of Bridgeport, earn spots on the Academic All-America teams.
A finance major with a 3.97 G.P.A., Malmstrom has led LIU Post to an 18-1-1 record and the number one ranking in Division II. The Pioneers were the top seed in the East Region and defeated Merrimack College 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA regional. They fell to Adelphi University in the regional final, snapping a streak of three consecutive regional titles.
A native of Linkopping, Sweden, Malmstrom owns a 16-0-1 record in 17 starts in goal. He ranks first in the East Coast Conference and third in Division II with a 0.45 goals-against average, and is also first in the conference and fifth nationally with eight shutouts. He has allowed just seven goals and has a .844 save percentage.
After being named the 2015 ECC Goalkeeper of the Year, he earned All-ECC honors for the second straight year with a second-team selection in 2016. A year ago, Malmstrom was an All-ECC first team selection and earned NSCAA All-East Region second team accolades. He was also chosen the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year and was a first team ECAC All-Star. He posted a 13-3-3 record with six shutouts and ranked 43rd in Division II with 1.04 GAA.
Malmstrom played one season at Lindsey Wilson College before transferring to LIU Post. In 2014, he compiled a 15-4-2 record with eight shutouts, with a 0.86 GAA. He led the ECC in wins, shutouts, and goals against average.
Pearse is a Third Team selection as a junior psychology major with a 3.43 G.P.A. Pearse was an ECC All-Conference First Team pick after leading the league with 14 assists and finishing second with 32 points on the year. His assist total also ranked fifth in all of Division II.
Worthington, is a Second Team honoree as a senior health sciences major with a 3.61 G.P.A. Worthington was a First Team All-Conference pick and also won her second straight ECC Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2016. In addition, Worthington led the conference with 15 assists and ranked third with 27 points on the year. Her assist and assist per game (0.88) totals also ranked second in all of Division II.
To view the full CoSIDA Academic All-America Men's and Women's Soccer Teams, click here.
Contributions to the release made by Michael MacEachern, Young Harris College and Academic All-America Co-Director for Publicity.
