Centerville, MA --- Senior defensive back Andrew Sides (Acton, MA) was named today to the ECAC 2008 Division III Northwest Football All-Star Team. Sides was one of nine players named to the team from Liberty League schools and was the only member of the Engineers selected. The safety placed 10th in the Liberty League with 76 tackles and 5th with 11 passes defended.

Fellow Liberty League schools Hobart, Union and St. Lawrence also had players named to the team. Hobart led with four All-ECAC Northwest selections, including ECAC Division III Northwest Rookie of the Year Drake Woodard, a freshman defensive back. Union was second among Liberty League schools with two All-Stars, while WPI and St. Lawrence each had one player selected.

Sides, a preseason All-American, had a tremendous season for the Engineers and was one of only nine players to be unanimously selected to the All-Liberty League first team. The strong safety placed second on the team and 10th in the conference with 76 tackles (53 solo). His two interceptions and nine pass breakups gave him 11 passes defended, ranking him fifth in the Liberty League.

Sides adds this honor to an already full 2008 trophy case, as he also was named to the D3football.com All-East Region Team, the Division II/III All-New England Team, the Worcester Area Football All-Star Team and the All-Liberty League First Team. He also earned Liberty League co-Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Northwest Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort leading WPI to a midseason 21-14 victory over Rochester.

For more information as well as full All-Star rosters for each ECAC region, see the attached release.

ECAC Release (PDF)

Story by Ray Cotrufo - WPI Athletics Department