December 12, 2011
Eight Men's Soccer Players Capture NSCAA All-East Region Honors
Eight men’s soccer players of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) gained 2011 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) NCAA Division III Men's All-East Region honors, as announced Monday by the NSCAA. Two players earned first-team recognition and will be eligible for NSCAA All-America consideration. Four players were named to the second-team and two players garnered third team honors.
Oneonta junior Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley, NY) had a breakout season for Oneonta as he was selected the SUNYAC Player of the Year. He led Oneonta with 28 points on 12 goals and four assists as the Red Dragons set a school record of 18 wins and advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Div. III tournament. The Red Dragons captured its first SUNYAC tournament title since 1985 and established a program record of 19 games without a loss.
Oneonta junior Eric Fortier (Pleasant Valley, NY) had a breakout season for Oneonta as he was selected the SUNYAC Player of the Year. He led Oneonta with 28 points on 12 goals and four assists as the Red Dragons set a school record of 18 wins and advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA Div. III tournament. The Red Dragons captured its first SUNYAC tournament title since 1985 and established a program record of 19 games without a loss.
Plattsburgh’s Pat Shaughnessy (Plattsburgh, NY) makes all-region for the first time in his career. The senior forward led the Cardinal offense all season. He posted a career-high 14 goals and 33 points, including two goals in Plattsburgh’s two postseason games. Shaughnessy netted seven game-winners and registered at least one point in 12 of the Cardinals’ 20 games.
Brian Duffy (Hilton, NY), Tommy Garafola (Richmond Hill, NY), Ryan Smith (Fairport, NY) and Gary Laronde (Wheatley Heights, NY) have been named second-team All-East Region.
Laronde joined Fortier on the front line that led the conference with 56 goals. Laronde, who was the MVP of the SUNYAC tournament, played in 22 games making 15 starts on the season. He finished with six goals and five assists for 17 points. His 16 points was third on the team and he had two game-winning goals.
Duffy, a defender, led Brockport with 15 points - seven goals and one assist - for the Golden Eagles who finished the season with a 13-4-2 overall record and an 8-1 SUNYAC record. Brockport earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament after reaching the SUNYAC Championship game for the fourth consecutive season. Duffy scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Manhattanville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year where they tied Stevens Tech with the Ducks advancing with a penalty shot victory.
Duffy, a defender, led Brockport with 15 points - seven goals and one assist - for the Golden Eagles who finished the season with a 13-4-2 overall record and an 8-1 SUNYAC record. Brockport earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament after reaching the SUNYAC Championship game for the fourth consecutive season. Duffy scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Manhattanville in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive year where they tied Stevens Tech with the Ducks advancing with a penalty shot victory.
Garafola, a junior midfielder earns his third All-Region mention in as many years, as he netted third-team honors in 2009 and second-team recognition following the 2010 season. Garafola owned the team-high in assists with eight this year—which ranks third all-time in a single season in New Paltz history—and he also collected a team-leading 14 points. He found the back of the net three times this season, and two of those were game-winners. Among conference leaders, he finished second in assists and third in assists per game (0.42).
Smith started 18 games for the Blue Devils and accumulated seven goals and two assists on the season. Two of those goals were game winning shots for Fredonia. This is his first all-region honor. Fredonia finished with an 11-8 overall record.
A junior back out of Toronto, Ontario, Hakim earns the first all-region nod of his career. Hakim finds himself on the All-Region third team after stepping up in 2011 to lead a young Plattsburgh defense that allowed 1.30 goals per game and posted eight shutouts. The Cardinals’ team captain was also named Defensive Most Valuable Player of the Cardinal Classic tournament earlier this fall.
Nicholas Gregg (Apalachin, NY) anchored a defensive unit that posted eight shutouts and gave up only 22 goals in 23 contests. He was named to the SUNYAC all-tournament team as the Red Dragons won the conference title. Gregg picked up one goal and two assists on the season.
