University of Evansville soccer players Robby Lynch and Mike Luttrull have a lot in common. Both are juniors from the Indianapolis area, both made the all-Missouri Valley Conference and all-Midwest Region Teams last year, and both are key figures on the Aces' 10-6-1 squad this year. Now there's another link between the two. Lynch and Luttrull are finalists for the Academic All-America Division I Men's Soccer Team, which will be announced in four weeks.

Evansville is the only school with two members on the 11-man District 5 All-Academic First Team. All 11 now become finalists for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Lynch, from Carmel, Ind. and a graduate of Carmel High School, has a 3.58 grade point average and is majoring in exercise science. Luttrull, from Indianapolis and a graduate of Avon High School, has a 3.82 GPA and is majoring in accounting. Lynch ranks fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference in assists (5), sixth in points (13) and seventh in goals (4). Luttrull ranks second in the league in game-winning goals (2), third in goals (5) and 10th in shots (30).

Both have been starters since their freshman season. They are two big reasons why the Aces reached 10 victories quicker this season than any year since 1996, and why the Aces have produced four consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1989 to 1992. UE has two regular season matches remaining, Wednesday at league leading Missouri State and Saturday at home against Bradley. The Aces have already qualified for the State Farm MVC Tournament semifinals, Nov. 13 at Des Moines, Iowa.

CoSIDA DISTRICT 5 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

GK: Ryan Schwartz, Valparaiso (3.67 Finance)

D: Conner Burt, Butler (3.97 Marketing)

D: Will Martin, Loyola (3.97 Biology)

D: Ofori Sarkodie, Indiana (3.57 Exercise Science)

D: Kevin Ross, Western Illinois (4.0 Business)

MF: ROBBY LYNCH, EVANSVILLE (3.58 EXERCISE SCIENCE)

MF: David Prochazka, UW-Green Bay (3.76 Business)

MF: Michael Thomas, Notre Dame (3.45 Psychology)

F: MIKE LUTTRULL, EVANSVILLE (3.82 ACCOUNTING)

F: Matt Eliason, Northwestern (3.38 Communications)

F: Eric Weigman IUPUI (3.87 Finance)