Tyler Blackwood Takes Pair of SSC Honors as Adrian Bush Tabbed as League’s Top Coach
ORLANDO, Fla. - University of Tampa men's soccer player Tyler Blackwood was honored as the Sunshine State Conference men's soccer Player and Offensive Player of the Year as head coach Adrian Bush was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
Twenty-three student-athletes have been named to the 2012 All-SSC Team. Blackwood was selected Player and Offensive Player of the Year, while Bush was chosen Coach of the Year. Eckerd's Matt Duffy earned Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Rollins' Walker Hume was tabbed Freshman of the Year.
Named to the All-SSC First Team with Blackwood (F), Duffy (D), and Hume (D) were: forwards Rob Crowley (Rollins) and Julian Halder (Lynn); midfielders Gary Ogilvie (Florida Tech), Daniel Salazar (Rollins), and Jack Winter (Lynn); defender Brian Fekete (Tampa); goalkeeper Matt DiCerbo (Lynn); and at-large selection Riccardo Bini (Nova Southeastern).
Receiving a slot on the all-conference second team were: forwards Matt Dolan (Eckerd), Brett Durrance (Rollins), and Drake Hillman (Florida Tech); midfielders Antoine Aupiais (Florida Tech), Evan Greenbaum (Rollins), and Guilherme Oliveira (Barry); defenders Nicola Brivio (Nova Southeastern), Ashley Holmes (Florida Southern), and Jason Sangha (Lynn); goalkeeper Keneil Baker (Rollins); and at-large selection Brentton Muhammad (Florida Tech).
Rollins forward Grant Blackhurst received honorable mention.
Voting for the All-SSC Men's Soccer Team was conducted among the league's soccer coaches and sports information directors.
A sophomore from London, Blackwood led all SSC players with 24 points and 15 goals. His average of 1.60 points per game and 0.73 goals per game were tops in the league. He twice tallied a hat trick, posting three goals in victories over Clayton State and Florida Southern. Blackwood is the first Spartan since Roy Fink in 2001 to be named the SSC Player of the Year, and just the fifth in program history.
A senior from Knaresborough, England, Duffy was a defensive anchor on a young Eckerd squad that fielded 19 freshmen and sophomores. He also played a role on offense when needed, tallying five goals and two assists.
In his debut season out of Austin, Texas, Hume played a key role on a Rollins defense that ranked second in the SSC with seven shutouts and a 0.91 goals against average. The Tars also tied for second with 16 goals allowed. Despite playing on the back line, Hume also proved to be an offensive weapon. He ranked 12th in the SSC with 13 points on five goals and three assists.
In his eighth season at the helm at Tampa, Bush led his team to a second-place showing one season after the Spartans missed the SSC tournament by failing to qualify for the six-team field. Also the 2008 coach of the year, this marks the eighth league coach of the year award for UT.
The Spartans have demonstrated a balanced attack on the pitch and rank among the SSC's top three teams in most offensive and defensive statistical categories. UT has been ranked among the NSCAA's top-25 teams for much of the season and sits at No. 19 in the latest poll. Bush's award marks his second SSC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year distinction, as he also claimed the honor in 2008.
2012 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER TEAM
FIRST TEAM
F - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa (So)
F - Rob Crowley, Rollins (So)
F - Julian Halder, Lynn (Grad)
M - Gary Ogilvie, Florida Tech (Sr)
M - Daniel Salazar, Rollins (Sr)
M - Jack Winter, Lynn (So)
D - Matt Duffy, Eckerd (Sr)
D - Brian Fekete, Tampa (Sr)
D - Walker Hume, Rollins (Fr)
GK - Matt DiCerbo, Lynn (Sr)
At-Large - Riccardo Bini, Nova Southeastern (Fr)
Player of the Year - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa
Offensive Player of the Year - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa
Defensive Player of the Year - Matt Duffy, Eckerd
Freshman of the Year - Walker Hume, Rollins
Coach of the Year - Adrian Bush, Tampa
SECOND TEAM
F - Matt Dolan, Eckerd (So)
F - Brett Durrance, Rollins (Fr)
F - Drake Hillman, Florida Tech (So)
M - Antoine Aupiais, Florida Tech (So)
M - Evan Greenbaum, Rollins (So)
M - Guilherme Oliveira, Barry (Sr)
D - Nicola Brivio, Nova Southeastern (Fr)
D - Ashley Holmes, Florida Southern (Grad)
D - Jason Sangha, Lynn (So)
GK - Keneil Baker, Rollins (Jr)
At-Large - Brentton Muhammad, Florida Tech (Sr)
HONORABLE MENTION
F - Grant Blackhurst, Rollins (Fr)