PHILADELPHIA - Senior Omid Shokoufandeh was named a 2008 ESPN The Magazine Third-Team Academic All-America in men’s soccer, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The announcement came Wednesday afternoon. 

The forward was eligible for national honors after being selected to the District 2 first team earlier this season. He is the first Penn student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors in men's soccer.

Shokoufandeh has had a breakout season in 2008, leading the Quakers with 22 points. Five of his nine goals this season have been game-winners. He has collected numerous weekly honors this season, and is the first Quaker in more than 10 years to collect more than 20 points in a season. Thanks to his offensive exploits, Penn went 11-2-4 this season, won a share of the Ivy League title at 5-1-1, and will play an NCAA College Cup first-round match Friday night at George Mason.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Shokoufandeh is a Philosophy, Politics & Economics major with a minor in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.