WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Williams College men's soccer team captain and back Tobias Muellers has been voted to the Men's Division III Soccer Academic All-America team by the nation's College Sports Information Directors.

 

Tobias Muellers is majoring in chemistry.

 

Muellers is the 44th Eph athlete to be named to the Academic All-America team since 1993 and the third men's soccer player: Brad Murray (1997 - 3rd Team) and Patrick Huffer (2006 - 1st Team) were the two previous Eph men's soccer players honored.

 

Additionally, Muellers is the first Eph athlete to be named to two separate Academic All-America teams, having earned First Team honors on last year's Track/Cross Country team.

 

Even in high school Muellers was recognized with All-American honors and his attendance at the 2014 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American Luncheon in Philadelphia brought about a chance meeting with current Eph head coach Erin Sullivan.

 

"I first met Tobias and his father Dave unexpectedly, coincidentally, and almost inconceivably, at the 2014 NSCAA All-American Luncheon in Philadelphia.],"  Sullivan said. "At the time, I was coaching at another college and was with one of our Scholar All-Americans. We arrived toward the tail end of the reception before the All-America banquet. There were over 800 people in attendance, boys and girls All-Americans from high school, club, and college, so the room had over 100 tables in one of the largest banquet halls in the Philadelphia Convention Center.

 

"We walked through the banquet tables and finally spotted a table that had a couple free seats next to a coaching friend of mine. The banquet began and, as is customary, we introduced ourselves to those at the table. The other gentlemen at the table were a father and his son, both tall, unassuming, stately. At first glance, I assumed the player was a collegiate All-American, based on his sheer size and stature, and we exchanged introductions. When to my surprise he told me he was a high school All-American and his name was Tobias, I was shocked. The next logical question was, "Where are you taking your talents and going to school next year?" His answer in one word was (where else?) "Williams." I was blown away how in a banquet hall of this size, we just happened to sit down next to the one player and his father of 800+ attendees that was headed to Williams."

 

"Just 12 months and one season later, I was blessed with the opportunity to return to Williams and become Tobias' coach, which has been one of the greatest privileges of my 20-year collegiate coaching career. So the story came full circle in a twist of fate I'm very grateful for." 

 

Muellers was a four-year letterman and three-year starter in the back for the Eph soccer team. This season in a 16-game season Williams allowed just 10 goals, an average of 0.67 per match. He scored one goal this season coming forward on set pieces and in his 61-game Eph career he scored three goals.

 

Most recently Muellers was named to the New England Sports Journal DIII Second Team.