Pair of Former Spartan Standouts Named to SSC All-Decade Team

MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Sunshine State Conference announced its 2010 to 2019 Men's Soccer All-Decade honors, listing the University of Tampa's Tyler Blackwood and Brian Fekete to the group.

Voters named 22 student-athletes from eight programs as All-Decade and bestowed Player of the Decade upon Mark Anderson of Barry University. Lynn University alumni Chris Hellmann and Jason Sangha claimed Offensive Player of the Decade and Defensive Player of the Decade accolades. At the same time, their skipper John Rootes was named Coach of the Decade. All-Decade voting took place among the league's administrators and men's soccer coaches.

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

Anderson earned SSC Men's Soccer Player of the Decade honors following an award-winning career for the Buccaneers. In 2011 alone, the forward from Durham, England, was named the Daktronics National Player of the Year, Daktronics Regional Player of the Year, SSC Player of the Year, and SSC Offensive Player of the Year. He was named All-Region four times throughout his career, All-SSC four times, and All-America three times. Anderson ranks first or second in 10 Buccaneer program records. Between his junior and senior seasons, he guided Great Britain to a Silver Medal at the World University Games.

Video: Listen to Mark Anderson's thoughts about being named Player of the Decade

Two-time SSC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Regional Player of the Year, Chris Hellman, has been selected Offensive Player of the Decade. The forward from Cologne, Germany, was named the 2014 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after guiding the Fighting Knights to the title. That same year he led Division II in goals and points. Hellman also earned three First Team and one Second Team All-America nods during his career.

Sangha, a four-time All-American, two-time NCAA National Champion, and two-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player, will now be referred to as the SSC Defensive Player of the Decade. The defender from Southampton, England, was a critical component to the Fighting Knight's 2012 and 2014 title runs, was named ALL-SSC four times, and First Team All-Region six times in his career.

Voters honor Rootes as the SSC Coach of the Decade. From 2010-19, he guided Lynn to a 134-37-19 (75.5%) record and eight conference championships, including five regular-season titles. During the same period, Rootes and the Fighting Knights won the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championships in 2012 and 2014, reached the title game twice more, and the final four a total of five times. He was named SSC Coach of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2019.

The 2010-19 SSC All-Decade honors include eight First Team All-Americans, five SSC Player of the Year winners, and three national champions. Additionally, four men earned more than two All-SSC First Team nods during the decade: Tosan Popo from Rollins (4), Niklas Tasky from Lynn (3), Adin Kavara from Florida Tech (3), and Maximillian Schulze-Geisthovel from Saint Leo (3).

Over the last 10 years, seven SSC programs earned a combined 27 NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament berths. Lynn led the way, representing the league seven times, while Rollins College gained entry five times. The University of Tampa was third with four appearances, followed by Palm Beach Atlantic University1 (3), Barry University (3), Saint Leo University (3), and Florida Tech (2). SSC Men's Soccer reached the NCAA Final Four seven times and the National Title game six times, with Lynn emerging victorious from the national tournament in 2012 and 2014 and Barry hoisting the trophy in 2018.

2010-19 SSC Men's Soccer All-Decade First Team (Listed in alphabetical order by last name)

Mark Anderson, Barry (F - 2008-11)

- In 2011 alone, Anderson was named the Daktronics National Player of the Year, Daktronics Regional Player of the Year, SSC Player of the Year, and SSC Offensive Player of the Year. He was named All-Region four times throughout his career, All-SSC four times, and All-America three times. Anderson ranks first or second in 10 Buccaneer program records. Between his junior and senior seasons, he guided Great Britain to a Silver Medal at the World University Games.

Elliott Barker, Palm Beach Atlantic (G - 2016-19)

- Barker spent four seasons as the starting goalkeeper for the Sailfish. The England native started 16 games as a true freshman recording a 12-3-1 record, 50 saves, and a 1.07 GAA. For the next two years, Barker led the SSC in GAA (.42 and .67) and was Top-2 in save percentage (.84 and .79). Those two seasons earned him First Team All-SSC, First Team All-South Region, and one Second Team and one Third Team All-American honors. Barker started nine games while conceding just eight goals before suffering a season-ending injury his senior season. 

Tyler Blackwood, Tampa (F - 2012-13)

- Blackwood was the third SSC men's soccer athlete to be named SSC Player of the Year twice (2012 and 2013), the second to be named SSC Offensive Player of the Year twice (2012 and 2013), and the first to win both awards twice. Blackwood tallied 72 points, 32 goals, and eight assists in 33 games played for the Spartans across 2012 and 2013. In both years he starred for UT, Blackwood was selected as an Honorable Mention Daktronics All-American, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-SSC.

Charlie Dennis, Palm Beach Atlantic (M - 2016-17)

- Dennis accounted for 39 points, 15 goals, and nine assists while appearing in 33 games for the Sailfish. In his first season with PBA, Dennis led the team in points and goals and was named First Team All-South Region by NSCAA. The England native appeared in 14 games during his final season despite battling through injuries. He scored six goals and recorded three assists on his way to claiming the 2017 SSC Player of the Year award.

Chris Hellmann, Lynn (F - 2013-15)

- Two-time SSC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, and Regional Player of the Year, Chris Hellman, has been selected Offensive Player of the Decade. The forward from Cologne, Germany, was named the 2014 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after guiding the Fighting Knights to the title. That same year he led Division II in goals and points. Hellman also earned three First Team and one Second Team All-America nods during his career.

Tosan Popo, Rollins (M - 2013-16)

- In 2016, Popo became the sixth player in conference history to earn four First Team All-SSC honors in men's soccer. He is the only athlete in this decade to reach that mark. Popo was honored as All-Region six times, including four First Team Nods. On the All-American front, he was recognized as D2CCA Third Team in 2015 and First Team by the NSCAA in 2016. Popo also earned two NCAA Division II All-Tournament accolades.

Johnny Rodrigues, Barry (G - 2009-13)

- Rodrigues piloted the Buccaneers to a 44-20-13 over his career, including 19-9-4 in conference play. He was selected as First Team All-SSC and First Team All-South Region in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, he was named Second Team All-SSC and earned an SSC All-Tournament nod. Rodrigues' name is all over the Barry record book, including as the leader in career saves, wins, and goalie games played/started. Outside the timeframe for All-Decade, Rodrigues was named SSC Freshman of the Year and an SSC All-Tournament member in 2009.

Juan Sanchez, Palm Beach Atlantic (D - 2017-18)

- Sanchez appeared in 18 games in 2017 and helped the Sailfish to 13 shutouts. Sanchez earned SSC Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All SSC and South Region, and Third Team All American honors. In year two, he continued to claim awards for his performances. He was awarded SSC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year, First Team All SSC and South Region honors, and was named a First Team All American after appearing in 19 games. Sanchez is the only player to be named conference Player of the Year more than once this decade.

Jason Sangha, Lynn (D - 2011-14)

- Sangha, a four-time All-American, two-time NCAA National Champion, and two-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player, will now be referred to as the SSC Defensive Player of the Decade. The defender was a critical component to the Fighting Knight's 2012 and 2014 title runs, was named ALL-SSC four times, and First Team All-Region six times in his career.

Niklas Tasky, Lynn (D - 2016-18)

- Tasky amassed some hardware during his three seasons at Lynn, raking in three All-America and Three First Team All-SSC honors. In 2016, he was named NSCAA First Team All-American, NSCAA & D2CCA First Team All-South Region, First Team All-SSC, SSC All-Tournament Team. He followed with D2CCA Second Team All-American, NSCAA & D2CCA First Team All-South Region, and First Team All-SSC honors in 2017. Finally, in 2018, he garnered USC Third Team All-American, D2CCA & USC First Team All-South Region, First Team All-SSC. Tasky is one of four All-Decade honorees to earn three or more First Team All-SSC awards.

Alun Webb, Lynn (M - 2016-17)

- Webb saw action in 39 games for the Fighting Knights across the 2016 and 2017 seasons, in which he provided his team with 46 points on 16 goals and 14 assists. Webb was named First Team All-SSC both years and took home First Team All-Region honors from the NSCAA and D2CCA in 2016.

2010-19 SSC Men's Soccer All-Decade Second Team (Listed in alphabetical order by last name)

Keneil Baker, Rollins (G - 2010-13)

- During Baker's four years in goal for the Tars, his squad reached four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national runner-up performance in 2010. The Rollins' career leader in shutouts, earned two First Team All-Region, two Second Team All-Region, and five SSC honors, including First Team All-Conference in 2013. 

Cadu Cusatis, Palm Beach Atlantic (F - 2018-19)

- During his 2018 campaign, Cusatis scored six goals, recorded six assists, and started all 20 of the games he appeared in for the regular season SSC Champions. In Cusatis' senior season, he took his game to another level by leading the SSC in goals with 13 and total points with 28. He was named SSC Player of the Year, First Team All-SSC, South Region Player of the Year, and a Second Team All-American.

Brian Fekete, Tampa (D - 2009-12)

- Fekete tallied over 5400 minutes for the Spartans across 69 games. His top accolade came in 2012 when he was named a First Team All-American. Also, in 2012, Fekete was tabbed First Team All-SSC and SSC All-Tournament. In 2011, he grabbed Honorable Mention All-America and First Team All-South Region honors from Daktronics, as well as Second Team All-SSC. Fekete's 2010 season yielded a Second Team All-America and First Team All-South Region nod from Daktronics and a First Team All-Conference honor from the SSC.

Francisco Greco, Barry (M - 2018-19)

- Greco led Barry to the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2018. Along the way, he was named All-Region, All-American,  All-NCAA Tournament Team, All-NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player, SSC Freshman of the Year, First Team All-SSC, and All-SSC Tournament team.

Zach Hofstetter, Florida Southern (M - 2007-11)

- Hofstetter capped his career as a Moccasin as the NCAA Statistical leader in points/game (2.93) and goals/game (1.13) in 2011. That same year he was also named First Team All-Region by the NSCAA and All-SSC First Team. Conference coaches also awarded him First Team honors in 2010. Hofstetter ranks second in FSC history in career assists (23) and single-season points (44).

Walker Hume, Rollins (D - 2012-13)

- Hume 2012 led a staunch Tars defense in 2012 and 2013, earning Third Team and First Team All-American awards from the NSCAA, respectively. Hume made NSCAA First Team All-Region, Daktronics First Team All-Region, and All-SSC First Team both years he was at Rollins. Conference coaches named him the Freshman of the Year in 2012 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

Adin Kavara, Florida Tech (F - 2013-16)

- Kavara tallied 12 game-winning goals for the Panthers during his career.  In 2014, he was tabbed as an SSC All-Tournament Team member, First Team All-SSC, First Team Daktronics All-South Region, First Team NSCAA All-South Region. In 2015 he earned First Team All-SSC and Second Team D2CCA All-South Region honors. Finally, in 2016, he was tabbed First Team All-SSC, First Team NSCAA All-South Region, and Second Team D2CCA All-South Region. Kavara ranks fifth all-time in goals (41) and sixth in points (94) in Florida Tech History. He is one of four All-Decade honorees to earn three or more First Team All-SSC awards.

Gary Ogilvie, Florida Tech (M - 2010-12)

- Ogilvie, a two-time All-SSC First Team selection, was also named a Daktronics Honorable Mention All-American and First Team Daktronics All-South Region selection in 2010 (1st). In 2012, he was awarded First Team Daktronics All-South Region and Second Team NSCAA All-South Region accolades after being ranked in the top 10 of every league offensive category.

Sam Sawyer, Florida Tech (D - 2014-16)

- Sawyer, the 2016 SSC Defensive Player of the Year, also got the institutional nod as Florida Tech Athlete of the Year. Also, in 2016, he was tabbed First Team NSCAA All-South Region, First Team D2CCA All-South Region, and First Team All-SSC. Additionally, Sawyer was a Second Team D2CCA All-South Region member and First Team All-SSC in 2015. A Second Team All-SSC team member in 2014, he was also named Second Team Daktronics All-South Region.

Manuel Schoenhuber, Saint Leo (G - 2012-14)

- Schoenhuber tallied a .802 save percentage, 0.974 goals-against average, and a 30-13 record during his three years in goal for the Lions. An SSC First Team All-Conference selection in 2013 and 2014, Schoenhuber earned three All-Region honors, including two First Team awards.

Maximilian Schulze-Geisthövel, Saint Leo (F - 2013-15)

- Schulze-Geisthovel is credited with leading Saint Leo to the program's only SSC regular-season championships in 2013 and 2015. He was recognized as Second Team All-South Region in 2014 by Daktronics, followed by First Team All-Region by the NSCAA and D2CCA in 2015. Schulze-Geisthovel closed his career with 66 points from 28 goals and 10 assists in 51 games. He is one of four All-Decade honorees to earn three or more First Team All-SSC awards.