Three Spartans Earn D2CCA Men’s Soccer All-South Region Honors

JACKSON, Tenn. – The 2021 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Men's Soccer All-South Region Teams were announced Tuesday. The region's sports information directors voted on the teams. Omar Thali earned All-South Region Player of the Year and first team honors, Juancho Fernandez earned a spot on the All-South Region first team, and Adam Forster was named to the second team. 

Thali earns 2021 Division II All-South Region Player of the Year honors and a spot on the first team after playing a vital role in the Spartan offensive success this season. He receives the honors after leading the Spartans offensively, netting ten of the Spartans 30 goals this season, five being game-winners coming during the regular season against Auburn-Montgomery, Barry, Florida Southern, Nova Southeastern, and Lynn. He registered seven assists, totaling 27 points on the season, earning the overall top spot in points on the conference leaderboard. Additionally, Thali was named Offensive Player of the Year for the Sunshine State Conference and earned a spot on the All-SSC first team.  

After being the other half of the Spartans offensive success, Fernandez earns All-South Region first team honors, garnering 22 points this season, scoring nine goals, six being game-winners, and tallying four assists. The impressive performance from Fernandez this season also earned him a spot on the All-SSC first team.  

Forster earns All-South Region second team honors after his dominant performance between the posts this season. Appearing in 17 games for the Spartans, recording 44 saves, nine shutouts, and a .733 save percentage. 

The 13 first-team honorees will now advance to the national ballot, eligible for D2CCA All-America honors. The announcement of the All-America teams will be on December 7. 

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences. They discuss views, policies, and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and work closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.