ATTLEBORO, Mass. - All seven sponsored programs were represented on 2008 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Soccer All-Conference Team, it was announced today by Commissioner Del Malloy. In addition to the All-NECC honors, four separate major individual award winners and the team sportsmanship award were also voted upon and selected this week.
The Newbury Nighthawks senior forward John Mawson (Amherst, Mass.), a culinary management major, was named the 2008 NECC Men's Soccer Player of the Year. In conference play, Mawson was first in points with 12 points adding four goals and four assists. He tops the NECC in almost every scoring category in overall play with 13 goals, seven assists and 33 points.
Southern Vermont's sophomore Aaron Eschler (Gloversville, N.Y.) was named the 2008 NECC Men's Soccer Goalie of the Year. Eschler, a psychology major, tallied 150 saves with a 2.32 goals against average topping the NECC in saves and save percentage. Overall he has played 1243:48 minutes while notching 52 saves, 2.00 GAA and a .812 save percentage in all six conference matches.
Mitchell freshman James Gleason (Old Lyme, Conn.) nabbed the 2008 NECC Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year for his first season of collegiate play. Gleason, a business administration major, tallied two goals and three assists for seven points.
He was eighth overall in NECC play for shots at 13 and averaged 2.60 shots per game.
Gleason was joined by his head coach Dean Roberts along with Daniel Webster's head coach Bill Lawler as the 2008 NECC Men's Soccer Coaches of the Year. Both coaches tied in voting points to share the 2008 coaching honor. The Mariners' Roberts led his team to the top ranking in the final conference standings; earning the number one seed in the 2008 Men's Soccer Championships with a 9-8 overall record and a perfect 6-0 in conference. The Eagles' Lawler drove Daniel Webster to a 9-7 overall record and 4-2 in conference play finishing tied for second place. The Eagles earned the number three seed in the 2008 Men's Soccer Championships after a tie-breaker was conducted.
The Mountaineers of Southern Vermont, led by head coach Tim Penrod, were honored as the 2008 NECC Team Sportsmanship Award recipients. The Mountaineers finished their season 2-13-1 and 1-5 in NECC play.
Voting for the All-NECC team and each of the major awards was conducted among all NECC men's soccer coaches.
Joining Mawson and Eschler on All-NECC First Team in the forward positions were Becker senior Dircilino DeBrito (New Bedford, Mass.), Mitchell sophomore Joel Blancaflor (Haddam, Conn.) and Lesley junior Tyler Reeves (Coventry, Conn.); at the midfielder positions were Mitchell senior Josh Griffo (Higganum, Conn.), Newbury senior William Maddock (Marshfield, Mass.), Daniel Webster junior Mike Lohr (Chepachet, R.I.) and Elms sophomore Courtney Johnson (Belchertown, Mass.); at the defender positions were Mitchell junior Justin Curtis (Fairfield, Conn.), Lesley junior Scott Wheeler (East Hampton, Conn.) and Lesley junior Zach Rocha (New Bedford, Mass.).
Second team honors went out to eleven student-athletes. At the forward position were a trio of freshman Southern Vermont's Nick Haggerty (Wynantskill, N.Y.), Daniel Webster's Spencer Bernard (Windsor Locks, Conn) and Alex Jackson (Kent, Ohio); at the midfielder positions were Lesley freshman Yair Correa (Pawtucket, R.I.), Daniel Webster sophomore Chris Leyland (New Hope, Penn.) and Southern Vermont sophomore Tony Martinez (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.); at the defender positions were Daniel Webster sophomore Parker Condit (Newton, N.J.), Elms sophomore Chris Silva (Chicopee, Mass.), Mitchell seniors' Adam Deltgen (Norwich, Conn.) and Kevin Patterson (Narragansett, R.I.); and one goalkeeper Becker junior Aaron Fill (Delta, non-U.S.).
Three players received honorable mention honors including Daniel Webster sophomore Samson Kibreru (Waltham, Mass.), Daniel Webster freshman Joe Keene (Bristol, N.H.) and Mitchell freshman Andy Hall (Natick, Mass.).
2008 ALL-NECC MENS SOCCER FIRST TEAM
Forwards
John Mawson, Newbury, Senior
Joel Blancaflor, Mitchell, Sophomore
Dircilino DeBrito, Becker, Senior
Tyler Reeves, Lesley, Junior
Midfielders
Josh Griffo, Mitchell, Senior
Courtney Johnson, Elms, Sophomore
Mike Lohr, Daniel Webster, Junior
William Maddock, Newbury, Senior
Defenders
Justin Curtis, Mitchell, Junior
Zach Rocha, Lesley, Junior
Scott Wheeler, Lesley, Junior
Goalkeeper
Aaron Eschler, Southern Vermont, Sophomore
2008 ALL-NECC MENS SOCCER SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Spencer Bernard, Daniel Webster, Freshman
Nick Haggerty, Southern Vermont, Freshman
Alex Jackson, Daniel Webster, Freshman
Midfielders
Yair Correa, Lesley, Freshman
Chris Leyland, Daniel Webster, Sophomore
Tony Martinez, Southern Vermont, Sophomore
Defenders
Parker Condit, Daniel Webster, Sophomore
Adam Deltgen, Mitchell, Senior
Kevin Patterson, Mitchell, Senior
Chris Silva, Elms, Sophomore
Goalkeepers
Aaron Fill, Becker, Junior
2008 ALL-NECC MENS SOCCER HONORABLE MENTION
Midfielder
Samson Kibreru, Daniel Webster, Sophomore
Defenders
Andy Hall, Mitchell, Freshman
Joe Keene, Daniel Webster, Freshman
2008 NECC MENS SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR: John Mawson, Newbury, SR (Amherst, Mass.)