MARIETTA, Ga. – Seniors Emeka Maduka and Dennis Kramer, members of the 2012 Southern
Polytechnic State University men’s soccer team, recently earned NAIA All-America recognition
for their play during this past season.
The All-Americans are chosen by the NAIA All-America committee, which consists of
the NAIA-Men’s Soccer Coaches Association Executive Committee, the championship games
committee and two men’s soccer coaches based on geography. There were 11 players selected
to each of the first, second and third teams, along with 36 on the honorable mention
list.
Maduka, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound forward from Lagos, Nigeria, was placed on the NAIA
All-America Third Team. He was earlier selected as the 2012 Southern States Athletic
Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was named First Team All-SSAC for the
fourth consecutive campaign. Maduka led Southern Polytechnic in goals (18), points
(40), shots (93), shots on goal (47) and game-winning goals (seven) this season. He
topped the SSAC in shots, shots per game (4.43), shots on goal, shots on goal per
game (2.24) and game-winning goals while also ranking tied for first in game-winning
goals per game (0.33), third in goals, third in goals per game (0.86), third in points
per game (1.90) and tied for third in points. Nationally in the NAIA, Maduka finished
tied for second in game-winning goals, tied for fourth in game-winning goals per game,
ninth in shots, 14th in shots per game, tied for 18th in goals and tied for 18th in
shots on goal. This is the second time Maduka has been selected for All-American
honors as he was NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in 2009 during his freshman year.
A 6-foot-6, 200-pound goalkeeper out of Berlin, Germany, Kramer was a NAIA All-America
Honorable Mention honoree. He was also a First Team All-SSAC pick and started all
22 matches for Southern Poly in 2012. Kramer allowed just 18 goals this year and posted
five shutouts while combining on four others. His goals-against average of only 0.84
per game was the best in the conference and ranked tied for 10th in the country at
the NAIA level. Additionally, Kramer was once tabbed as the SSAC and the NAIA National
Defensive Player of the Week this season.
The Hornets, rated 11th nationally in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll, ended 15-6-1 overall in 2012, advancing to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship
for the second straight year.