Felipe DeSousa Leads Trio of All-SSC Honorees

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Tampa Men's soccer team had three players named All-Sunshine State Conference as Felipe DeSousa, Lewis Sugden, and Jake Richards were recognized. Twenty-three student-athletes are recognized as ALL-SSC for the 2017 season. Palm Beach Atlantic University boasts 11 awards including Player of the Year and Coach of the Year. Voting for the team was conducted among the league's men's soccer coaches.

The Spartans DeSousa earns the Offensive Player of the Year honor. The forward from Tampa tallied eight goals and an assist in 10 games. DeSousa's 17 points helped lift the Spartans to a second place finish in SSC play and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. DeSousa is the second athlete in program history to be named SSC Offensive Player of the Year¹.

Sugden, last years SSC Freshman of the Year, repeats as an All-SSC Second Team member. The sophomore has played in all 13 games for UT this season and has tallied three goals and a team-leading six assists to guide the Spartans to the second place finish in the conference and an undefeated year at home. 

Richards also repeats as an All-SSC Second team member after his recognition in 2016. The Bedworth, England native has played in 10 games this season, accumulating over 900 minutes between the posts and finished the regular season with a 1.06 GAA and four shutouts to keep the Spartans undefeated at home and an 8-3-2 (6-2-2 SSC) record this season. 

SSC Men's Soccer History: ALL-SSC Teams | Players & Coaches of the Year | Conference Champions | National Champions

Charlie Dennis of Palm Beach Atlantic is named Player of the Year by conference coaches. The Brighton, England native scored five goals and added two assists from the midfield position in 12 games. The play of Dennis has been instrumental in leading PBA to an undefeated regular season and PBA's first conference championship. He is the first PBA student-athlete to be named SSC Player of the Year in any sport.

PBA's Juan Sanchez is tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Sanchez becomes the first Sailfish athlete to earn the award after leading a defense that tallied 13 shutouts and held opponents to just three goals.

Stian Hagboe Olsen of the Florida Tech takes the Freshman of the Year honors in 2017. The defender started in all 15 Florida Tech games and led the Panthers in minutes played with 1318. Olsen is the fourth Florida Tech athlete to become Freshman of the Year, first since 20062.

Brian McMahon is selected Coach of the Year by his peers. McMahon guided Palm Beach Atlantic to a 14-0-2 overall record, the No. 2 national ranking, the No. 1 south region ranking, and the program's first SSC championship.

Lynn University's Alun Webb, Niklas Tasky, and Alex Roth repeat as First Team selections from 2016. Tampa's Lewis Sugden and Jake Richards along with Juan Tejada of Eckerd College earn Second Team accolades for a second consecutive year. Florida Tech's Jan Hlavica moves up to Second Team from an Honorable Mention nod last season.

Player of the Year: Charlie Dennis, Palm Beach Atlantic

Offensive Player of the Year: DeSousa, Tampa

Defensive Player of the Year: Juan Sanchez, Palm Beach Atlantic

Freshman of the Year: Stian Hagboe Olsen, Florida Tech

Coach of the Year: Brian McMahon, Palm Beach Atlantic

^ = 2016 First Team All-SSC

~ = 2016 Second Team All-SSC

* = 2016 Honorable Mention All-SSC

% = 2016 Freshman of the Year

¹Tyler Blackwood won in 2012 & 2013

²Ross Allen (2006), Stephen Barnes (1997), Martin Peat (1994)