Spartans Place Three on All-SSC Men’s Soccer Team
MELBOURNE, Fla. - Andrew Clare was among the second-team selections as a total of 25 student-athletes have been named to the 2014 All-Sunshine State Conference Men's Soccer Team. Fellow Spartans Nikolai Hammer and Zak Downes were also listed as second-team honorees.
The Lynn duo of Chris Hellmann and Jason Sangha highlight this year's group. Voting for the team was conducted among the league's men's soccer coaches.
Hellman was selected Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the year by conference coaches, as well as first team all-conference. Hellman is the 10th student-athlete since 2001 to earn Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the year in the same season. Sangha, also a first team all-conference member, was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Lynn is the first school to sweep the men's Player of the Year awards since Barry did so in 2002.
John Rootes and Robin Chan were selected Co-Coaches of the Year by their peers. Rootes guided Lynn to a 7-0-1 conference record and the SSC Regular Season Championship. Chan resurrected Florida Tech from a 2-6 conference showing in 2013 to a 6-2 SSC record in 2014 and a No. 3 seed in the SSC tournament.
Saint Leo's Jules Verdin has been named Freshman of the Year. Maximiliam Schulz-Geisthovel (Saint Leo), Manuel Schoenhuber (Saint Leo), and Tosan Popo (Rollins) repeat as First Team All-SSC Selections.
First Team
F-Chris Hellmann^, Lynn (Cologne, Germany)
F-Maximilian Schulze-Geisthovel*, Saint Leo (Drensteinfurt, Germany)
F-Adin Kavara, Florida Tech (Oslo, Norway)
M-Tosan Popo*, Rollins (Essex, England)
M-Bafou Sanogo, Saint Leo (Paris, France)
M-Rob Crowley, Rollins (Unionville, Pa.)
D-Jason Sangha^, Lynn (Southampton, England)
D-Javier Mochon^, Lynn (Granada, Spain)
D-Franck Bayebanen, Saint Leo (Guingamp, France)
GK-Manuel Schoenhuber*, Saint Leo (Traunstein, Bavaria, Germany)
At-Large-Nicolas Mortensen, Lynn (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Second Team
F-Drake Hillman, Florida Tech (Plymouth, England)
F-Grant Blackhurst^, Rollins (Grantham, England)
F-Nikolai Hammer, Tampa (Clearwater, Fla.)
M-Jules Verdin, Saint Leo (Tongeren, Belgium)
M-Jonathan Radvogin, Florida Southern (Västerås, Sweden)
M-Nico Gercke, Barry (Wahrenholz, Germany)
D-Nicola Brivio*, Nova Southeastern (Gallarate,Italy)
D-Sam Sawyer, Florida Tech (Bideford, England)
D-Andrew Clare^, Tampa (Brandon, Fla.)
GK-Mitch Thorn, Florida Tech (Brisbane, Australia)
GK-Zak Downes, Tampa (Dallas, Texas)
GK-Andrea Giombetti, Nova Southeastern (Rome, Italy)
At-Large-Josh Thomas, Florida Tech (Bagworth, England)
Honorable Mention
F-Brett Durrance, Rollins (Tampa, Fla)
* = 2013 First Team
^ = 2013 Second Team
Player of the Year: Chris Hellman, Lynn
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Hellman, Lynn
Defensive Player of the Year: Jason Sangha, Lynn
Freshman of the Year: Jules Verdin, Saint Leo
Coach of the Year: John Rootes, Lynn & Robin Chan, Florida Tech