Conference Carolinas Trio Named D2 CCA All-America
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) released its 2023 All-America men’s and women’s soccer teams on Wednesday and three Conference Carolinas student-athletes earned laurels.
On the women’s side, UNC Pembroke teammates Mercy Bell and Anna Grossheim both earned the honors. Bell, the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, was named to the second team as a forward while Grossheim earned third team midfielder honors. This is the third consecutive D2 CCA All-America honor for Grossheim and the first for Bell.
A sophomore from Jacksonville, North Carolina, Bell led the league in goals (19) and points (42), was tied for the lead in game-winning goals (5) and ranked second in shots (96) and shots on goal (48). The D2 CCA and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region selection scored at least one point in 11 outings this season and notched single-season school records with her six multi-goal games and three hat tricks.
Grossheim, a senior from Garner, North Carolina, led the league in shots (102) and shots on goal (55), as well as leading the nation in shots per game (5.37) and shots on goal per game (2.89). She also led Conference Carolinas in assists (12) and finished tied for fifth in points (26). Grossheim tallied at least one point in 12 matches this season and broke both the UNCP single-season and career (33) records for assists.
On the men’s side, Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year Davis McBee of Belmont Abbey was named third team midfielder. A graduate student from Gastonia, North Carolina, McBee finished with a career-best season for The Abbey with five goals and a conference-best 14 assists. The 14 assists were also tied for the best in the nation following the end of the regular season. McBee also earned D2 CCA First Team All-Region honors and was a CSC All-District honoree. He is the first in program history to be selected as an All-American by the D2 CCA. He is also the first All-American since Tatum Bourque and Billy Hjorth were named All-Americans by the United Soccer Coaches back in 1994.
Communication professionals from NCAA Division II schools and conferences selected the three D2 CCA All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first-team all-region picks advancing to the national ballot. A total of 39 student-athletes for men and 40 for women filled out the six teams.
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education.
The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.
The complete D2 CCA women’s soccer release is available here with the men’s release available
here.