PHILADELPHIA - Haverford College midfielder Matt Gorski has earned inclusion to the Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly-SIDA 2012 Academic All-Area Men's Soccer Team as announced Monday by the Philadelphia-Area Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA).
In order to be eligible for Academic All-Area, an athlete must be in his second year at the institution and hold a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better. Voting for the team is conducted by the sports information offices of the 28 institutions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Gorski, a political science major, tied for the team lead in goals (seven) and points (16). A fixture in the midfield throughout his career, Gorski reached double figures in points in a season three times. Ranked among the 2012 conference leaders in goals per game (0.37) and points per game (0.84), Gorski tallied two game-winning goals on the season and his penalty kick goal against McDaniel on October 20 established a new program record for penalty kicks made in a career (four).
A first-team All-Centennial Conference honoree in 2011 and 2012, Gorski was recently named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 2012 All-Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team. Also meriting honorable mention all-conference honors in 2010, Gorski ranks 19th in program history in assists with 16.
Gorski's senior campaign was a noteworthy one for the program as it captured the Centennial title for the first time. Haverford then advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the first time by topping Wesleyan (Conn.) University 4-2 on penalty kicks -- one from the foot of Gorski -- after playing the Cardinals to a 2-2 tie through regulation and a pair of overtime periods. The Fords' historic season came to an end with a 3-0 loss to fifth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in the round of 32.
Swarthmore College's Peter Maxted was named the Philly-SIDA's men's soccer performer of the year.
Philadelphia Inquirer/Philly-SIDA 2012 Academic All-Area Men's Soccer Team