This week, the California trio of Marco Brougher, Santiago Hopkins, and Gaku Nishimura received prestigious academic honors from the College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognizing their achievements on and off the soccer field.
The CSC announced that Brougher, Hopkins, and Nishimura were selected for the NCAA Division I Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Team on Tuesday. This designation is a testament to their outstanding performances in both academics and athletics. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year that Hopkins has achieved Academic All-District recognition, while Brougher and Nishimura are proud recipients for the first time.
A student-athlete’s eligibility for the CSC Academic All-District Team is stringent, requiring them to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50 and participate in 90% of their team’s games, or start in at least 66% of these games.
Brougher, a mechanical engineering major from Los Altos Hills, previously earned a spot on the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll last season. In his junior year, he stepped into the role of Cal’s starting goalkeeper, showcasing his skills by playing in all 18 games while starting 17. He logged an impressive 1,503 minutes on the field and ranked second among his teammates in this category. During a thrilling season that concluded with a run to the ACC Championship semifinals, Brougher excelled, leading the conference with 61 saves and an impressive saves-per-game average of 3.39. His save percentage of .735 placed him second in the league, while he tied for fifth with five shutouts. One of his standout performances included a sensational 1-0 victory against then-No. 1 Pitt, where Brougher made a career-high seven saves. This remarkable display earned him the ACC Defensive Player of the Week accolade and a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week—an honor he received twice after another stellar shutout against then-No. 2 Duke in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
Brougher is currently in contention for the prestigious CSC Academic All-America award. Voting commenced on Tuesday and will continue until November 26 at 8:59 p.m. PT, with all CSC members granted the opportunity to cast their votes in their respective divisions.
Meanwhile, Hopkins, a senior from West Hills studying mechanical engineering, has made his mark by being recognized on the Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll for the past two years. Known for his speed and defensive prowess as a right back, he participated in 16 games during his final season at Berkeley, starting 14 matches. His contributions included two assists, one of which played a crucial role in the Bears’ 2-1 upset victory against then-No. 14 North Carolina in the first round of the ACC Championship. This pivotal moment occurred when Hopkins made a long throw-in that found Malcolm Zalayet, whose scissor kick leveled the match after Cal was trailing 1-0. In addition, Hopkins assisted on a goal by Rohan McEligot in a 4-2 triumph over Saint Mary’s at Edwards Stadium during the regular season.
Nishimura, who transferred to Cal after spending two seasons at San Jose State, hails from Yokohama, Japan, and is currently undecided on his major. In his inaugural year with the Bears, he made a notable impact, recording two goals and two assists across his 16 appearances. His striking abilities were highlighted in two critical matches against ACC opponents. In a game against Virginia, Nishimura seized a blocked long-range shot and skillfully fired a 22-yard shot into the upper left corner of the net. Additionally, he scored another goal in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Louisville, tying the game late in the second half. Throughout the season, he started 13 of the 16 matches he played.
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How do you balance your academic responsibilities with your commitments to soccer?
**Interview with Marco Brougher, Santiago Hopkins, and Gaku Nishimura on Their Recent Academic Honors**
*Interviewer*: Thank you all for joining me today! Congratulations on being selected for the NCAA Division I Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Team. What does this recognition mean to you?
*Marco Brougher*: Thank you! For me, it’s a huge honor to be recognized for my hard work both on the field and in the classroom. Balancing mechanical engineering and soccer can be challenging, but it’s really rewarding to see that effort pay off.
*Santiago Hopkins*: I agree! This is especially meaningful since I’ve been fortunate enough to achieve this recognition for the second year in a row. It reinforces the idea that student-athletes can excel in both academics and athletics. It’s a proud moment for not just us, but for our teammates and coaching staff as well.
*Gaku Nishimura*: Absolutely! This is a great achievement not only for us individually but also for our program. It shows our coaches and the university that hard work and dedication in all aspects of life are truly valued.
*Interviewer*: Marco, you’ve had quite an impressive season as Cal’s starting goalkeeper. Can you tell us about your performance this year, particularly in the ACC Championship semifinals?
*Marco Brougher*: It’s been such an exciting season! I’ve worked hard to develop my skills, and having my teammates support me has been crucial. One of the highlights was that match against then-No. 1 Pitt. Making that game-winning save and being named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week was incredible. It motivates me to continue pushing for both academic and athletic excellence.
*Interviewer*: Santiago, you mentioned your speed and defensive skills on the pitch. How do you feel those attributes have contributed to your academic success?
*Santiago Hopkins*: Well, the discipline required in soccer—like maintaining focus during games and training—translates well to my studies. It has taught me time management and how to perform under pressure, which helps a lot in my coursework as a mechanical engineering student.
*Interviewer*: Gaku, this recognition is your first time on the Academic All-District Team. How does that feel, especially surrounded by teammates who have achieved this before?
*Gaku Nishimura*: It’s an incredible feeling! Watching Marco and Santiago set such high standards has inspired me to push myself in both academics and athletics. I hope this award motivates more students to strive for excellence in both areas.
*Interviewer*: all of you are now in the running for the CSC Academic All-America award. What does that entail, and how are you feeling about the upcoming voting process?
*Marco Brougher*: The voting process is open until November 26, and I’m honored to be considered. It’s exciting but nerve-wracking too. We’re all hopeful, and it would be fantastic for any of us to achieve that level of honor.
*Santiago Hopkins*: Definitely! It’s a testament to our hard work and dedication. Regardless of the outcome, we’re proud of our achievements together.
*Gaku Nishimura*: Agreed! We’ll be cheering each other on through the voting process and beyond. It’s all about teamwork, both on the field and in the classroom.
*Interviewer*: Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us. Best of luck with the upcoming vote, and congratulations once again!
*Marco Brougher, Santiago Hopkins, and Gaku Nishimura*: Thank you!