FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2005
Contact: Brian Hand, Public Affairs Assistant (bhand@socon.org)
SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference announced its 2005 Men’s Soccer All-Conference teams today, as well as the Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. All honorees were voted on by the league’s coaches.
UNC Greensboro’s Randi Patterson was selected as the Player of the Year. The Spartans forward is in the top five in the league in almost every major statistical category. Patterson ended the regular season first in the SoCon in goals (16), points (39) and was third in the league in assists (7). Elon forward Kiki Willis was dubbed the 2005 SoCon Freshman of the Year after a regular season that saw the former high school all-american end his efforts with nine goals.
Elon head coach Darren Powell was chosen as the conference’s Coach of the Year. The first-year coach led the Phoenix to a doubled mark of 8-8-2 overall and a 4-2-1 record in the league, helping Elon to earn a third seed in the conference tournament. The Phoenix finished just 4-11-5 in 2004.
All eight schools were represented on the two squads. UNC Greensboro placed the most players on the first team with five. Four other Spartans besides Patterson commandeered first team status, including 2004 first-team member Scott Jones and fellow midfielder Jokull Elisabetarson. Goalkeeper Jay Benfield and defender David Worthen were the other two Spartans to garner first team nods.
The first team consisted of two players each from College of Charleston, Elon and Furman. Jeremy Gold and Keion Yearwood were the Cougars representatives, while freshman of the year Willis was joined by defender Junior Nombre as the Phoenix’s two first team honorees. The Paladins’ two spots amongst the first team were acquired by Jon Leathers and Dominic Cianciarulo.
Davidson’s John Latting was the Wildcats lone representative on the first team.
Southern Conference All-Conference Teams
First Team
F-Randi Patterson, UNC Greensboro
F-Jeremy Gold, College of Charleston
F-Kiki Willis, Elon
MF-Scott Jones, UNC Greensboro
MF-Dominic Cianciarulo, Furman
MF-Jokull Elisabetarson, UNC Greensboro
D-David Worthen, UNC Greensboro
D-John Latting, Davidson
D-Keion Yearwood, College of Charleston
D-Junior Nombre, Elon
D-Jon Leathers, Furman
GK-Jay Benfield, UNC Greensboro
Second Team
F-Jesus Arroyo-Peco, Wofford
F-Tate Parrish, Appalachian State
F-Brian Martin, Furman
F-Lawrence Smith, Georgia Southern
MF-Cass Baltz, Davidson
MF-Brett Paschall, Elon
MF-Josh Villalobos, Furman
D-D.J. McCurry, UNC Greensboro
D-Nahum Navas, Davidson
D-Casey Davis, UNC Greensboro
GK-Taylor Saxe, Elon
Player of the Year: Randi Patterson, UNC Greensboro
Freshman of the Year: Kiki Willis, Elon
Coach of the Year: Darren Powell, Elon