2020-21 Academic All-America® Men's Soccer Teams Release (PDF)
AUSTIN, Tex. – Just over a month after being tabbed an Academic All-District selection, Thaylan Silva now adds Academic All-American to his honors ledger, securing a spot on the second team list by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Tuesday.
The forward is just the third Eagle in men's soccer program history to receive Academic All-American honors and the second to be recognized by CoSIDA. Sindre Welo was an NSCAA First-Team Scholar All-American in 2015 with Kyle Frohock landing both ESPN Academic and CoSIDA second-team honors in 2004.
Silva moves to three academic honors in his career, adding these CoSIDA accolades to his All-South Region First-Team Scholar nod from the United Soccer Coaches in 2019. The São Paulo, Brazil native's senior campaign saw him start in all 10 matches while leading the team in points, netting four goals with five assists to earn first-team All-South Atlantic Conference status. He closed the spring tied for sixth in team history with 15 career assists. Silva was one of two Eagles to score a pair of game-winners, one of those being a penalty kick in the 4-1 win over Belmont Abbey. That PK moved him up in the program's career records, ending the year in a tie for third with three makes and a tie for sixth with three attempts. He attempted the second-most shots and shots on goal in the SAC with 35 and 13, respectively.
With a 3.75 GPA, the three-time Eagle Scholar graduated with a degree in Communications in December 2020 and is currently pursuing an MBA. He has also served as a Resident Assistant and has participated in community outreach through Operation Inasmuch and numerous team service outings with the Appalachian Center.
Carson-Newman has produced 53 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since softball's Brandi Hardin garnered first-team honors in 1992. Silva and women's soccer's Lira Mathes are the first two Eagles to earn the plaudits for the 2020-21 academic year.
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2020-21 Division II Academic All-America® program.
