The CoSIDA Academic All-America selections have been announced for men's soccer, and Northwest Nazarene's Lorenzo Valentini has earned the prestigious honor.

Valentini, who earned Third Team honors, posted a cumulative 3.95 GPA as a recreation and sport management major through the 2020 fall semester. 

He helped to anchor a Nighthawk defense that allowed 1.71 goals per game and posted a 1.64 goals against average this year. The Nighthawks had two shutouts on the season at Saint Martin's on March 6 and against the Saints at home on April 10. Valentini was also tied for the team lead with three goals.

In his first year with the program in 2019, Valentini was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year.

Valentini was the only GNAC representative on the Academic All-America teams and was one of two West Region student-athletes to earn recognition, joining Cal State LA's Daniel Simonis. His 3.95 GPA was tops among Third Team recipients and tied for 12th overall. 

He is also just the second NNU men's soccer player to earn the honor, joining Erik Anderson in 2015.

Voted on by Sports Information Directors across the country, the Division II Academic All-America® program recognizes the top student-athletes in the nation in terms of both academic and athletic achievement. 
 
Based on the absence of most fall sports competition, the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Committee revised some rules and procedures for nominating student-athletes this season. Due to the low percentage of games completed this season, the nominees were selected based on career statistics and achievements.