Bowling Green, KY — Patriots men's soccer centerback Bruno Garcia closes out his historic Patriot career by earning the 2024-2025 Mid-South Conference Men's Student-Athlete of the Year, conference officials announced Monday.  Garcia becomes the 11^th UC student-athlete to garner this honor and the first since 2014.

"Earning the MSC Student-Athlete of the Year award means a lot to me. It reflects not just my own efforts, but the unwavering support from my coaches, professors, teammates, friends, and especially my family. They've pushed me to grow not just as an athlete and student, but as a person," said Garcia.

The senior is a cornerstone of the Patriots' defense that has been essential in the Cumberlands qualifying for the NAIA Tournament in each of his first three season.  Known for his composure, tactical awareness, and leadership on the field, he anchored one of the top defenses in the conference, helping lead Cumberlands to a standout season in which they captured the MSC Tournament title.  The Patriots posted a 15-3-3 record on the year and reached the NAIA National Semifinals for the first time in program history after defeating the defending NAIA champions MidAmerica Nazarene in PK's.
 
"Bruno has been invaluable in the process of implementing a new structure and game model to the men's soccer program, having played an essential role on and off the field," said Head Coach Paulo Neto.  "The leadership, discipline, humility, and spirit of servitude demonstrated by Bruno paved the way for the accomplishments on the field, but more importantly, established a strong foundation for the future."

Garcia has been a Patriot standout since arriving in Williamsburg in 2022.  The Lima, Peru native is a three-time MSC All-Conference selection, including earning First Team All-Conference honors in 2023.  Garcia had a breakout season in 2023 which led to him being named the MSC Defensive Player of the Year.  The senior has been a part of 12 clean sheets in his time with Cumberlands.
 
Off the field, Garcia has been just as dominant. A top student in the classroom, he is pursuing a double major in Business Administration and Information Technology Sciences. He has earned Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and MSC Academic All-Conference honors in each of the past two season, proving that his discipline extends well beyond game day.  Additionally, Bruno garnered the Dr. Edward L. Hutton School of Business Finance Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding student in Finance.  Garcia was also a CSC First Team Academic All-America in 2023. 
 
In addition to his academic and athletic achievements, Garcia has been active in community service efforts, including mentoring underclassmen and volunteering at local schools and soccer clinics. His commitment to serving others and representing his university with integrity made him a clear choice for this year's award.
 
Garcia added, "Balancing athletics and academics has taught me discipline, resilience, and purpose. Competing on the field while pursuing a degree has shown me that excellence in one area fuels the other. It's about becoming well-rounded and ready for the next challenge, whether in sport, life, or career."

Garcia becomes the third Patriots men's soccer player to earn this distinction joining Cedric Muteshi (2013) and Steven DeGeorge (2005).

The Patriots will kick off its 2025 season on Thursday, August 21^st, when they travel to Winona Lake, IN to face Grace College.

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