Akindele and Sullivan garner Daktronics First Team All-American honors; Strand earns Honorable Mention accolades

GOLDEN, Colo. – Three players from the Colorado School of Mines men’s soccer team were named to Daktronics All-American teams released this afternoon. Tesho Akindele and Chike Sullivan earned First Team honors while Manville Strand was an Honorable Mention selection.

Akindele, a freshman forward from Thornton, Colo. (Northglenn H.S.), was the 2010 RMAC Freshman of the Year. A unanimous First Team All-RMAC selection, Akindele led the RMAC in goals (19), points (45) and game-winning goals (tied – 5) in his first season at Mines. A First Team Daktronics All-Region selection, Akindele recorded three consecutive hat tricks this season becoming the first men’s soccer player to accomplish that feat in the RMAC. His 19 goals established a new single-season program record. Akindele currently ranks in the top ten among Division II players in points per game, total points, total goals and points per game.

Sullivan, a junior midfielder from San Juan, Trinidad & Tobago (St. George’s College), earned Daktronics First Team All-Central Region honors for the second consecutive season. Sullivan was a unanimous First Team All-RMAC selection in 2010 as he led the RMAC in assists (11), ranked fourth in points (33) and fifth in goals (11). Among Division II players, Sullivan currently ranks sixth in total assists.

Strand, a sophomore goalkeeper from Las Vegas, Nev., (Spring Valley H.S.), garnered Second Team All-RMAC honors for the second consecutive season. A Daktronics First Team All-Region pick, Strand led the conference in goals against average (0.64), save percentage (.819) and ranked second in shutouts (8) during the 2010 season. Strand currently ranks seventh in Division II among goalkeepers in goals against average.

The third-ranked Orediggers finished the 2010 season with an overall record of 17-2-2. Mines made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, third in program history, and won its first-ever NCAA Tournament game against Regis University (5-1). CSM also claimed both the RMAC regular-season and tournament titles.