MOUNT VERNON – Cornell senior
Justin Howe gathered another prestigious national award Wednesday as a member of the
2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America Men's Soccer First Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Howe earned a spot as a defender on the 11-player first team in NCAA Division III. He's one of only three players on this year's team to garner CoSIDA All-America accolades three times in a career, which includes 2021 Team Member of the Year Jasper Yang of Grinnell.
Howe also gained CoSIDA First Team All-America status for the 2020-21 season. He was a third team honoree in 2019.
Howe jumps on a short list of Cornell three-time CoSIDA Academic All-Americans with Mike Tressel (football/wrestling, 1994-96), Kyle Dettbarn (baseball/basketball, 1992-93) and Tom Zinkula (football, 1976-78).
Howe is the seventh Cornellian named to CoSIDA's Academic All-America First Team in consecutive years. Jillian Schulte (volleyball) was the last to achieve the feat in 2017-18. Cornell has now claimed 57 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans since 1972.
Howe is an engineering major with a 3.98 cumulative grade point average, tying for the highest GPA among this year's first team selections.
For his play on the soccer field this season, Howe was tabbed to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team in Region IX. He landed on the All-Midwest Conference First Team and was voted MWC Defensive Player of the Year.
Howe helped the Rams to a record-setting 15-4 campaign, culminating with the program's first appearance in the MWC Tournament title match since 1982. Cornell tied Knox for first place in the MWC regular season with a 7-1 mark and earned the No. 2 seed in the MWC Tournament.
Howe was the staple to a stingy Cornell defense that delivered six shutouts and surrendered only 1.05 goals per match. Opponents shot just .099 percent against the Rams.
Howe tallied three goals, including one game-winner.
The three-year starter and multi-time team captain led the Rams to 19 shutouts since 2018. Howe netted 11 goals in 54 career matches.
CoSIDA has recognized the most accomplished student-athletes for academic and athletic achievement each year since 1952. CoSIDA's Academic All-America program is the longest running and most prestigious for student-athletes. More than 20,000 nominations are submitted annually.
