BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State defender Paul Pessina was named to the NSCAA.adidas second-team all-region team announced Thursday.

A senior from Palmetto, Fla., Pessina started in all 16 games he played and was the team captain and leader of the top defense in the Southern Conference. The Apps defense led the conference in goals against average with a 1.13 and tied with Georgia Southern for the least goals allowed, with 21, while Georgia Southern played one fewer game.

Pessina also earned first-team all-conference honors this year, the second time in his career. The all-region honor is also the second of his career, he was named to the second-team in 2006.