The American University men's soccer team received three Patriot League major awards and a conference-best six All-Patriot League selections, conference officials announced Tuesday. Cristobal Soto was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and Billy Knutsen was honored as the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year. Head Coach Todd West was also recognized with his second consecutive Patriot League Coach of the Year honor.
Soto anchored an American defensive unit that is ranked 46th in the country in team goals against average with 0.91 and 34th in shutout percentage. The Santiago, Chile native was also recognized on the All-Patriot League First Team for the second consecutive year. He has started all 17 games for the Eagles, registering a career-high two goals with one assist. The junior earned three Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors this season and was also named the ECAC Defensive Player of the Week. He has made 56 appearances in his career, with 52 starts.
Knutsen was named Goalkeeper of the Year and has been named to the All-Patriot League First Team for the first time in his career after taking over as the starting goalkeeper this season, starting all 17 matches. He is ranked 20th in the country with a .832 save percentage and is 33rd in total saves, posting 79 on the year. The San Francisco, Calif. native owns a 0.92 goals against average and has posted six shutouts. He was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Week for three consecutive weeks during the year. The junior has made 25 appearances in his career, with 23 starts.
West led American to its first-ever undefeated Patriot League record in program history this season and its second consecutive and fifth overall Regular Season titles since joining the conference in 2001. He garners the award for the second straight year and fourth time in his career in his 13th season at the helm at American, also earning the award in 2004, 2008 and 2011. The Eagles posted a 10-5-2 record, its first 10-win season since 2004 and with American's 5-0-2 conference record, West has now accumulated a 55-25-12 mark in Patriot League play during his tenure.
Joining Knutsen and Soto on the First Team are Dale McDonald and Colin Seigfreid. Alassane Kane and Ryan Morales were recognized on the All-Patriot League Second Team.
McDonald is ranked second on the team with 13 points on five goals and three assists. The Portmore, Jamaica native also notched the game-winner in American's game against Bucknell, scoring in the 44th minute for the 1-0 victory. He was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career following the game. The junior has appeared and started in 15 games this season.
Seigfreid leads the Patriot League with 17 points on five goals and a conference-best seven assists. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native has started 14 games and is a three-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week. He has tallied six goals and 14 assists in his career, making 53 appearances with 38 starts.
This is the first career All-Patriot League honor for both McDonald and Seigfreid.
Kane is second in the Patriot League and leads the team with six goals this year, also adding one assist. The Macon, Ga. native has tallied two game-winners for the Eagles, including posting two goals to lift American to a 3-2 victory over Navy in overtime. He has appeared in 16 games this year, starting 13. The senior receives his third All-Patriot League honor after being named to the First Team in 2011 and Second Team in 2010. He has appeared in 54 games in his three years at American, starting 48, and has posted 19 goals with six assists.
Morales earns his second consecutive All-Patriot League honor after receiving First Team honors a year ago. The Dallas, Texas native has appeared in 16 games at midfield with 14 starts. The senior has registered four assists in his career and has made 69 career appearances with 53 starts.
American's six All-Patriot League selections are tied for first in program history since joining the Patriot League in 2001. The Eagles also landed six student-athletes on the lists in 2001 and 2004. The four First Team honorees are tied for the second-most in program history, matching marks set in 2004 and 2011.
American will host the 2012 Patriot League Tournament this weekend at Reeves Field. The top-ranked Eagles will face the fourth seed, Bucknell, on Friday, November 9 at 11 a.m. No. 2 Lafayette will face third-seeded Colgate at 2 p.m. The winners of the two semifinal matches will advance to the Championship on Sunday, November 11 at 1 p.m.
2012 Men's Soccer All-Patriot League Team
First Team
Dale McDonald, American, Jr., F
Josh Cintas, Holy Cross, Jr., F
Colin Seigfreid, American, Jr., M
Mike Reidy, Colgate, Sr., M
Monty Sanders, Holy Cross, Jr., M
Alec Golini, Lafayette, Jr., M
Cristobal Soto, American, Jr., D
Evan Heroux, Colgate, So., D
Brandon Turner, Lafayette, Jr., D
Ali Famili, Lehigh, So., D
Billy Knutsen, American, Jr., GK
Second Team
Alassane Kane, American, Sr., F
Brendan Burgdorf, Bucknell, Sr., F
Ryan Morales, American, Sr., M
Chris Thorsheim, Bucknell, Fr., M
Mike Garzi, Colgate, Sr., M
Sean Peckham, Lafayette, Sr., M
Collin Costello, Bucknell, Sr., D
Wade Martin, Colgate, Sr., D
Nick Dubee, Navy, Jr., D
Derek Vogel, Navy, Fr., D
Liam Stapleton, Colgate, So., GK
Offensive Player of the Year – Mike Reidy, Colgate, Sr.
Defensive Player of the Year – Cristobal Soto, American, Jr.
Goalkeeper of the Year – Billy Knutsen, American, Jr.
Rookie of the Year – Derek Vogel, Navy, Fr.
Coach of the Year – Todd West, American
