FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for men's soccer. A total of 41 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams including six Methodist players.
Christopher Newport University's Winston Mattheisen has been named the Player of the Year while his coach, Steve Shaw, earned Coach of the Year Honors for the second consecutive season. Additionally, Michael Muhseler from N.C. Wesleyan College was named the Conference's Rookie of the Year. Finally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school. All awards are voted on by the men's soccer coach at each institution.
Methodist senior
Bret Brennan has been named to the First Team. Brennan led the team in scoring with nine goals and four assists during the regular season. He paced the team with three game-winning goals while starting every game for the Monarchs.
Junior
Brion Kelly and sophomore
Kyle Beach have been named Second Team selections. Kelly started every game for the Methodist defense while scoring two goals with five assists. Beach earned five wins in goal for the Monarchs making 63 saves and carrying a 1.59 goals against average.
Three freshmen were Honorable Mention selections including
Scott Smith,
Shane Davis, and
Shane Evans. Smith ranked second in scoring with six goals while Davis scored three goals with three assists during the regular season. Evans earned a starting job in the Methodist defense and picked up two assists.
Steve Harris was selected to represent the Monarchs on the All-Sportsmanship team this season. Harris earned six starts during the regular season scoring three goals and adding four assists.
The Monarchs advanced to the semifinals of the USA South Tournament after a 4-1 win over Shenandoah on Tuesday. Methodist will take on N.C. Wesleyan on Friday with a chance to face the winner of Christopher Newport and Averett in the championship.
Player of the Year
Winston Mattheisen - Christopher Newport
Rookie of the Year
Michael Muhseler - N.C. Wesleyan
Coach of the Year
Steve Shaw - Christopher Newport
The 2009 USA South Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams follow:
First Team:
Forward
Nao Masuda - Christopher Newport
Winston Mattheisen - Christopher Newport
Michael Muhseler - N.C. Wesleyan
Midfield
Bret Brennan - Methodist
Cliff Kipper - Christopher Newport
Samuli Markkanen - Averett
Edgar Zaldivar - N.C. Wesleyan
Defense
Kevin Greenberg - Christopher Newport
Sean Moriarty - Christopher Newport
John Thrower - Averett
Goalkeeper
Justin Wolfe - Christopher Newport
Second Team:
Forward
Adam Aldinger - Shenandoah
Levi Earl - Averett
Tuukka Myyra - Averett
Midfield
Andrew Clark - Greensboro
Rob Ivanovich - N.C. Wesleyan
Brian Lybert - Christopher Newport
Defense
Florian Bertalan - N.C. Wesleyan
David Haas - Christopher Newport
Brion Kelly - Methodist
Joan-Josep Vallejo Augsti - Shenandoah
Goalkeeper
Kyle Beach - Methodist
Honorable Mention:
Forward
Denis Geoffrey - Greensboro
John Lapointe-Ridley - Ferrum
Scott Smith - Methodist
Midfield
Shane Davis - Methodist
Collin Hill - Ferrum
Karim Kamara - Shenandoah
Defense
Staffan Alm - N.C. Wesleyan
Michael Barnes - Ferrum
Shane Evans - Methodist
Zach Poole - Ferrum
Ross Solomon - Greensboro
Goalkeeper
Nate Barker - Averett
All-Sportsmanship:
Danny Ly - Averett
John Corser - Christopher Newport
Walter Wright - Ferrum
Jorge Campos Diaz - Greensboro
Steve Harris - Methodist
Kingsley Okyereh - N.C. Wesleyan
Chester Podd - Shenandoah