United Soccer Coaches Name Nakhid Scholar All-American
KANSAS CITY - Senior Ali Kazim Nakhid (Beirut, Lebanon/UMBC) added one more award to his impressive senior season late Thursday, as he was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Team as a Third Team selection. Nakhid becomes the first United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American in program history.
In order to be eligible for United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region and All-America teams, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.40 cumulative GPA, play in a minimum of 75% of a team's contest and be an elite player as supported by playing honors (All-America, All-Region, minimum All-Conference). A student-athlete must also be at least a junior athletically.
Nakhid, a Psychology major minoring in International Business, earned United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-Region honors this season as well as Landmark Conference First Team All-Conference accolades and on Thursday was named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-ECAC selection. The defender totaled 11 goals and a pair of assists for 24 points, finishing tied for second in the conference in goals and fourth in points. He was also one of the anchors of a defense that posted seven shutouts and a 1.27 team goals-against average.
Nakhid also earned College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors.
Goucher finished 10-4-6 in 2022, its most victories since 1992, and qualified for the Landmark Conference Championship for the first time since 2014. The Gophers also made their first-ever ECAC Tournament appearance, advancing to the quarterfinals.