Men’s Soccer Lands 5 Players on All-PSAC
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Five members of West Chester's men's soccer team earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference all-conference honors for their performance in 2016. Claiming all-league honors for the first time were junior Tim French (Bensalem, Pa. / Holy Ghost Prep) and sophomore Sami Phelps (Princeton, N.J. / Westtown School). The duo helped lockdown opposing offenses, limiting them to 11.5 shots per contest and 1.22 goals per game. French played in and started 17 games for the Golden Rams, registering two goals and an assist for five points. Phelps has started all 18 games, while logging the most minutes (1,572) out of any position player on the team. West Chester's Miguel Ross (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown), Brian Schaefer (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin), and James Wood (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) all scored second-team all-conference honors as well. Ross managed to obtain an All-PSAC nod in every season during his tremendous four-year career. This marks the third time he has claimed second-team, while also making all-league last season. The senior has left his mark on the program, ranking second in program history with 28 career goals, only trailing Ryan Sekkes. Ross is currently tied for second in program history with 63 career points (28 goals, 7 assists). Lastly, his 69 games played puts him tied for tenth in the record books. Next was the senior-captain in Schaefer, who tallied four goals and an assist in limited action. The senior has only played in 12 games due to injury, but has made the most out of his opportunities for the Golden Rams. Wood his first full season in-between the pipes earned second-team honors. The sophomore played in and started 17 games for the Golden Rams, capturing a .84 goals against average and a .784 save percentage. Additionally, he has registered 69 saves to along with seven shutouts. The goalkeeper has achieved an overall 11-3-3 record for West Chester. Mercyhurst claimed several big awards including athlete of the year, freshman of the year, and coach of the year. West Chester continues its season as the men's soccer squad is the fourth seed in the Super Region 1-Atlantic Region of the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament. The Golden Rams will be making their first trip to the NCAAs since 2002 and only its second overall as a member of Division II. West Chester will travel to top-seeded Charleston (W.Va.) (16-2-1) on Friday and play the hosts in a regional semifinal contest. PSAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Year: Thom Derks, Mercyhurst PSAC Men's Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Year: Lucas Exner, California PSAC Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year: Jorge Gonzalez, Mercyhurst PSAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year: Nenad Vidakovic, Mercyhurst PSAC Men's Soccer First-Team All-Conference D –Harrison Howes^, Seton Hill D – Kyle Finsterbush^, Millersville D – Tim French, West Chester D – Sami Phelps, West Chester F – Thom Derks, Mercyhurst F – Hamza Mourchid, Gannon F – Troy Amspacher, Lock Haven F – Jorge Gonzalez, Mercyhurst MF – Joe Smith^*, Seton Hill MF – Christian Bukowski, East Stroudsburg MF – Christopher Sosa*, Millersville MF – Rory McKinnon, Seton Hill GK – Lucas Exner*, California PSAC Men's Soccer Second-Team All-Conference D – George Stannard, Gannon D – Michael Dirienzo, Mercyhurst D – Kyle Johnson, Mercyhurst D – Patrick Sullivan, Slippery Rock F – Curtis Gallagher, Seton Hill F – Miguel Ross^^*, West Chester F – Cooper Amos, California F – Nathan Delgado^, Millersville MF – Mark Roche, Mercyhurst MF – Sergio Kobowane, Gannon MF – Brian Schaefer, West Chester MF – Connor Wilkinson, Mercyhurst GK – James Wood, West Chester * Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection ^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
