Greenville, SC – The NCCAA is pleased to recognize Ben Sowers of Boyce College as the 2025 Kyle Rote, Jr. Award Recipient for Division II Men’s Soccer.
 
An offensive dynamo and captain for the Bulldogs, Sowers has electrified the field in his three years at Boyce, scoring 71 goals, including nine game winners in 50 games played. This season, the junior from Albuquerque, New Mexico leads the NCCAA in goals (24), points (55), and shots (76) while adding seven assists and recording 51 shots on goal. Sowers has earned three NCCAA Student-Athlete of the Week awards in his career. In his three years at Boyce, Sowers has ranked in the top-10 in multiple stats in the NCCAA, ranking in the top five in goals, points, shots, and game-winning goals all three seasons. He also earned First Team All-American honors, along with the Select Golden Ball Award and NCCAA All-Tournament Team accolades, while guiding Boyce to a runner-up finish at the 2024 NCCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Championship. 

Off the field, Sowers holds a 3.77 GPA while completing the five-year Pastoral Seminary Track in just three and a half years. He will also graduate with certificates in Biblical counseling and church history. Sowers also serves as an intern in the President’s office, helping with research for his weekly podcast and helps with events at Boyce College. 
 
Sowers serves at his church and is the vice president of the Boyce College Student Preaching Organization that organizes ministries to local nursing homes and homeless outreach in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a member of FCA and organizes events and Bible studies for his hall as an RA. He has served his team as well by helping lead two of his Bulldog teammates to Christ that were later baptized during his time on campus. 
 
Boyce College Head Men’s Soccer Coach Billy Ward said, “Ben has been a solid leader for our team in many ways, including living out his faith.  He is a man with integrity and a servant’s heart.  He is always the one who wants to pray with the opposing team, even prays with opposing players.  Ben is truly unashamed of the Gospel and shares it with our team, with other teams, with refs, and on campus.  He is always there to serve and help his teammates and others to grow in their walk with Christ.”
 
Other Nominees
Jonathan Casey – Grace Christian University
Joseph Greene – Maranatha Baptist University
 
 
Award Description
Kyle Rote, Jr. simply excelled in every area of life. He played every available sport, but soccer grabbed his allegiance in his teen years, and he was an All-American selection during his days at the University of the South. He rose to worldwide fame as the first US professional player to be viewed as a superstar during the days of the North American Soccer League. He played with and against the game’s best, including Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, and Rodney Marsh. He achieved some of his greatest fame by winning the Superstar Competition in which top athletes from every professional sport competed in a wide array of skills. He bested the likes of Lynn Swan, Drew Pearson, and Franco Harris. Throughout his career in sports, and today as a representative for professional athletes, Kyle Rote, Jr. simply let his faith in Christ drive him to be excellent as a husband, father, and community leader. The NCCAA is proud to present an honor of this magnitude in Kyle’s honor.