Cakurs of Men's Soccer Named UB's First-Ever CACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year
CACC Defensive Player of the Year completed career with 4.0 GPA; Led Purple Knights to 2025 conference title.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Continuing an offseason filled with academic accolades, University of Bridgeport men's soccer senior Bruno Cakurs added the conference's highest individual academic honor to his resume on Monday, earning Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) 2025-26 Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition. Cakurs is the first Purple Knight to capture the award since UB joined the CACC four years ago.
Cakurs capped off a sensational UB career with an outstanding 2025-26 campaign, excelling both on the pitch and in the classroom. He was instrumental in leading the Purple Knights to the 2025 CACC Championship, the program's first conference title since 2001 and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
A steady force along Bridgeport's back line, Cakurs started 21 matches for a defense that allowed one goal or fewer in 14 contests while posting a stellar 0.90 goals-against average in CACC play. His exceptional efforts earned him CACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, First Team All-CACC recognition, D2CCA All-East Region First Team accolades and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team honors.
Over the course of his four-year career, Cakurs appeared in 71 matches with 58 starts, providing a dependable presence while competing in nearly 90 percent of the Purple Knights' contests during that span.
Equally impressive in the classroom, the Finance major maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while completing 120 credits. He earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) First Team Academic All-America honors this past fall and was selected as the CACC Top XVI Award winner, recognizing the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at the conference championship site.
A two-time CSC Academic All-District selection, Cakurs also earned three CACC All-Academic Team honors, was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region Team and collected six appearances on the CACC Academic Honor Roll.
Cakurs will now advance for consideration for regional and national scholar-athlete awards administered by the CCA.
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