CLEVELAND, Ohio – For the second straight season, junior Thomas M'Barek of the Cleveland State University men's soccer team was named Academic All-Horizon League in an announcement made by the league office Friday afternoon.
M'Barek was one of 13 men's soccer student-athletes in the league to be named to the team that honors players for their success on the field and in the classroom. Faculty athletics representatives from each institution voted to determine the composition of the teams.
M'Barek owns a 3.95 cumulative grade point average as an international business major.
M'Barek is in his second season as a captain for the Vikings. He has started 13 of 14 matches in central defense, helping anchor the unit that has allowed the fewest goals in the Horizon League. The 2018 All-Horizon League selection is third among Viking outfield players with 1,176 minutes played. He has helped CSU allow only 16 goals in 14 matches as the Vikings have posted notable results against Louisville, Ohio State and Akron this season. M'Barek also scored his first collegiate goal in the home-opening win.
The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with Academic All-League honors in each of its 19 championship sports. To be eligible for Academic All-Horizon League consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale) and have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits. Honorees must also have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's overall contests.
Cleveland State concludes the regular season Friday evening by hosting Detroit Mercy at 7:00 p.m.