Clarksville, Ark.-Two University of the Ozarks men's soccer players were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas All-South Central Region Team, it was announced this week.
Junior goalkeeper Brian Sarber earned a spot on the Second Team, while senior forward Darren Clark made the Third Team. It is the second straight season Sarber has been All-Region.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Sarber led the American Southwest Conference in shutouts (7), save percentage (.869) and goals against average (0.67). The Allen, Texas, native started in all 22 matches and collected 93 saves. Six of his seven shutouts were in conference matches. He had a season-high 12 saves in a 3-0 win over Piedmont College to open the year.
The three-year starter now owns the conference career record in lowest goals against average (0.81). He is also the single-season school record holder in lowest goals against average (0.67). He finished 16th in NCAA III in saves percentage and 29th in goals against average.
Sarber has garnered a number of individual honors in 2007, including ASC Defensive Player of the Year, All-ASC First Team and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America. He was additionally honored with ASC Defensive Player of the Week this season.
Clark had the best season of his career, ranking third in the ASC in points (32), fourth in goals (13), fifth in shots (62), and tied for sixth in assists (6). The 5-foot-8, 160-pound native of Broken Arrow, Okla., was the team-leader in points, goals and game-winning goals (4). He finished second on the team in shots and third in assists. 11 of his 13 goals were against conference opponents.
A starter in all 22 matches, Clark had three matches with two goals. He had a season-high three assists and five points against Central Bible College. During the season, he had three or more shots on 12 different occasions. Clark completed a season in which he now ranks seventh at Ozarks in career points (50), goals (17) and assists (16). He is eighth in career shots (124) and fifth in games played (79). He earned All-ASC Second Team honors and was named to the ASC All-Tournament Team in 2007.
The Eagles won the ASC regular season championship and had the most conference wins in school history (11-2-0). They posted a 17-5-0 overall record, the second-most wins in school history, and advanced to the championship match of the playoffs for the fifth time under head coach Dave De Hart. Under De Hart, the men’s soccer program has had eleven players earn NSCAA All-Region honors in his nine-year tenure at Ozarks.
The NSCAA annually recognizes All-Region and All-America players throughout the country.
Topics: Athletics