Dec. 10, 2012
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – National media outlet College Soccer News has named New Mexico Soccer members Devon Sandoval (Second Team) and Kyle Venter (Third Team) to its All-America teams. It marks the duo’s second All-American honors in a matter of days after the NSCAA named both All-Americans.
The pair’s All-American accolades from College Soccer News marks the tenth and eleventh time a Lobo has received such honor from CSN since 2002. For Venter, he becomes the third player in school history to be named to a College Soccer News All-American team on multiple occasions. He joins Andrew Boyens (2005 & 2006) and Jeff Rowland (2004 & 2005) in that distinction.
Sandoval and Venter have garnered numerous post-season awards. Both were NSCAA All-Region, NSCAA All-Americans and First Team All-Conference in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Sandoval was one of 15 semifinalists for the MAC-Hermann award and received the third-most votes in the public voting for the award. Venter also picked up an additional national award when he was named to the 2012 National Team of the Season by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Senior Devon Sandoval finished the 2012 season among the nation’s scoring leaders with 15 goals and seven assists. His senior campaign was sixth all-time in program history for goals and points in a season. Sandoval leaves Albuquerque fifth in school history in goals and ninth in career points. Three times he was named MPSF Player of the Week and to TopDrawerSoccer’s National Team of the Week.
Kyle Venter repeats as a College Soccer News All-American. The junior defender was also a Third Team All-America selection by CSN in 2011. He was also named to a TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week in late October. Venter’s junior season saw him register two goals and an assist from his defender position. He was part of a New Mexico backline that was among the NCAA’s leaders in fewest goals allowed. Venter and the rest of the Lobos recorded eleven shutouts this season including seven consecutive clean sheets to end the regular season.