NAC Announces Men's Soccer Awards
WATERVILLE, Maine – The North Atlantic Conference has announced the 2023 Men’s Soccer All-Conference team and post-season awards.
Joshua Joseph of Thomas was voted the Players of the Year by the conference’s head coaches.
Vaughn Bottex of SUNY Delhi and
Kevin Ryan of SUNY Poly were selected as the Co-Defensive Players of the Year and newcomer
Roberto Velasquez-Osorio of SUNY Delhi received the Rookie of the Year honors.
Peterson Jerome of SUNY Poly was voted the Coach of the Year by his NAC peers.
Evan Allen of Maine Maritime earned the Men’s Soccer Senior Scholar Athlete award.
Joseph, a junior forward, Josh scored 10 goals and had three assists in conference play for a total of 23 points. His overall 15 goals accounted for almost half of the Terrier goals this season. For the complete season Josh scored 15 goals and had four assists for 34 points, and three of his goals were game winners. He is the first Thomas player to receive the Player of the Year honor since Trey Ming in 2015.
Bottex, a sophomore center back, anchored a backline that allowed five goals in eight games for an opponent average of 0.63 goals per game in conference. He was the primary center back of a defensive unit that allowed eight goals in 16 games for an opponent average of 0.50 goals per game which currently ranks fifth in all of NCAA Division III. Vaughn has started all 16 contests this season and was a second team All-NAC Conference selection in 2022 as a first-year.
Ryan is a junior defender. Since Kevin was inserted in the back line as one of SUNY Poly’s two starting center backs, the Wildcats had only conceded one goal in league play while he was on the field. Only one of the five goals conceded during conference play came when Kevin was on the field with the starting goalkeeper and starting back nine.
Velasquez-Osorio, a first-year forward, is currently ranked second in NCAA Division III with 23 goals and third overall with 51 total points. His 28 points and 3.50 points per game in conference is first in the NAC and he is tied for the lead league with two game winning goals. He ranks in the top four of all offensive statistical categories (assists, total shots, shots on goal & game winning goals) both in and out of conference. He has started all 16 contests this season. Velasquez-Osorio is a two-time NAC Rookie of the Week and also earned a NAC Player of The Week honor.
Jerome of SUNY Poly was voted by his peers as the NAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year. Poly went 7-1-3 in the final 11 regular season games and earned the top seed in the West Division. He earned his 150
th career victory on October 12 with a home victory over SUNY Canton.
Allen, a midfielder. is a four-year member and team captain for the Maine Maritime who will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a 3.99 cumulative GPA with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Systems Engineering. He also minors in Mathematics & Naval Architecture. Allen has completed internships with Bath Iron Works where he was assigned to their Hull Engineering Department and the Noise Shock & Vibration team. He also worked as an Associate Project Engineer with Performance Contracting Inc. of San Diego. Upon graduation Allen plans to complete an Electrical Technician certification program through Southern Maine Community College to help him pursue his Master Electrician’s License, as he plans to enter the Automation & Electrical Engineering industry. Not only is Allen a leader on the playing field and in the classroom, he is also a leader in the community. Having worked as an Equipment Room Assistant & Gameday Event Staff member for Mariners Athletics, served as an MMA Admissions Ambassador, Math & Science Academic Tutor, Electrical Power I & II, and Thermodynamics Teacher’s Assistant, MMA Conference Services Assistant, and a Residential Assistant for the MMA Department of Residential Life, Allen was deservedly recognized by the Maine Maritime Academy Harold Alfond School of Engineering Faculty, as the Department’s “Scheel Scholar”, which recognizes student’s academic talent and dedication to their education.
In addition to the major conference awards, 33 student-athletes were named to the All-Conference teams, and 14 individuals were named to the NAC Men’s Soccer Sportsmanship Team. Selection to the Sportsmanship Team is reserved for those who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The honorees have positively affected the men’s soccer culture and game environment by clearly demonstrating sportsmanship and integrity beyond the soccer rules and etiquette.
2023 Men's Soccer All-Conference
Player of the Year – Joshua Joseph, Thomas
Co-Defensive Player of the Year – Vaughn Bottex, SUNY Delhi
Co-Defensive Player of the Year – Kevin Ryan, SUNY Poly
Rookie of the Year – Roberto Velasquez-Osorio, SUNY Delhi
Senior Scholar Athlete – Evan Allen, Maine Maritime
Coach of the Year – Peterson Jerome, SUNY Poly
First Team
F – Roberto Velasquez-Osorio, SUNY Delhi
F – Joshua Joseph, Thomas
F – Mohamed Adow, UMaine-Farmington
M – Abus Mohamed Ali, SUNY Poly
M – Zach Chaisson, UMaine-Farmington
M – Mario Alvarez, Husson
D – Vaughn Bottex, SUNY Delhi
D – Kevin Ryan, SUNY Poly
D – Pedro Molina, Husson
GK – Jonathan Walch, SUNY Delhi
At large – Reuben Harrison, Maine Maritime
Second Team
F – Thomas Nimineh, SUNY Poly
F – John-John Dickenson, Maine Maritime
F – Remar Shirley, UMaine Presque-Isle
M – Mohamed Sy, SUNY Morrisville
M – Mosi Masimango, Husson
M – Erik Kleczkowski, SUNY Delhi
D – Alex Bryant, Husson
D – Matthew McCord, SUNY Poly
D – William Dowse, UMaine-Farmington
GK – Alex Rechsteiner, Husson
At large – Olvin Yanes, SUNY Morrisville
Third Team
F – Bryan Vargas, Eastern Nazarene
F – Eric Randall, SUNY Canton
F – Marc Kenny Derac, Lesley
M – Gabriel Toledo, Maine Maritime
M – Daud Abdi, Thomas
M – Jaquan Williams, SUNY Delhi
D – Sam Frimpong, SUNY Morrisville
D – Matt Serrao, SUNY Delhi
D – Jamie Fonseca, Thomas
GK – Ryan Primus, SUNY Poly
At large – Miguel Morales, Husson
Men’s Soccer Sportsmanship Team
SUNY Canton – Mason Holmes
SUNY Cobleskill – Saro Karageozian
SUNY Delhi – John Walsh
Eastern Nazarene – Gabriel Viau
UMaine-Farmington – Aric Belanger
Husson – Damian Sheffer
Lesley – Aidan Stafford
VTSU Johnson – Silas Lowenthal
VTSU Lyndon – Quinn Bressler
Maine Maritime – Evan Allen
SUNY Morrisville – Caleb Lucero
SUNY Poly – Jephte Joseph
UMaine-Presque Isle – Xavier McAtee
Thomas – Jack Thompson