Duke Men's Soccer Lands Three on Academic All-America Teams, Highlighting a Season of Excellence On and Off the Pitch
Duke men's soccer continues to shine-not just between the lines, but in the classroom as well. The 2025 Academic All-America teams, announced by College Sports Communicators (CSC), featured three standout Blue Devils, underscoring a program that’s producing both elite athletes and top-tier scholars.
Senior defender Alessandro Acito earned First Team Academic All-America honors, capping off a four-year career defined by consistency, leadership, and grit. The Manhattan native logged nearly 1,700 minutes this season, anchoring a Duke backline that leaned heavily on his experience and composure.
His efforts earned him Second Team All-ACC and First Team All-South Region recognition, but his impact goes beyond accolades. Over his career, Acito played close to 6,400 minutes-a testament to his durability and trust from the coaching staff.
While defenders don’t always fill up the stat sheet, Acito chipped in with three assists this season, his highest single-season point total, showing his ability to contribute in the attacking third when needed.
Joining Acito on the First Team is graduate forward Alessandro Arlotti, who brought both flair and intelligence to Durham after transferring from Harvard. Arlotti wasted no time making his presence felt.
He tied for the team lead in assists (five), added seven goals, and finished second on the squad with 19 points. That kind of production, paired with his academic pedigree-he was a Third Team Academic All-American and John Harvard Scholar while at Harvard-makes it clear that Arlotti is the full package: a cerebral playmaker with a nose for goal.
The Sanremo, Italy native brought a European touch to Duke’s attack, and his ability to both finish and create made him one of the most dangerous players in the ACC this year.
Ulfur Bjornsson, a junior striker from Iceland, rounded out Duke’s Academic All-America honorees with a Third Team selection. This marks his second straight year earning national academic recognition, after landing on the Second Team last season.
Bjornsson continues to be a model of consistency up top, starting 14 of 17 matches and finishing with five goals and four assists for 14 points. That stat line means he's now posted double-digit points in all three of his seasons in Durham-an impressive streak that speaks to both his talent and reliability.
He also earned Second Team All-ACC honors in 2025, reinforcing his status as one of the conference’s most well-rounded forwards.
The academic recognition didn’t stop there. Midfielders Kenan Hot and Trevor Burns were named Academic All-District selections, adding to Duke’s strong showing. Both players played vital roles in the midfield this season, and their inclusion reflects the depth of academic excellence throughout the roster.
In a sport where balancing the demands of high-level competition and rigorous academics is no easy task, Duke continues to set the bar. These honors are more than just individual achievements-they’re a reflection of a culture that values excellence in every phase of student-athlete life.