Three CAA Men's Soccer Players Earn All-America Honors
RICHMOND, Va. (December 14, 2011) - Following one of the best seasons in conference history, CAA men’s soccer players received numerous national and regional honors. Three players were selected to All-America teams, another picked up a Freshman All-America award and 16 players were named to the All-South Atlantic Region squad.
James Madison junior midfielder Paul Wyatt and Delaware senior forward Evans Frimpong were named to the NSCAA All-America second team and Old Dominion junior forward Yannick Smith was chosen to the NSCAA All-America third team. Frimpong and Smith were also chosen to the College Soccer News All-America third team.
Wyatt contributed six goals and three assists for a JMU squad that captured the CAA regular-season title and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship. He is just the sixth JMU player to receive NSCAA All-America honors and the first since 1995.
Frimpong, who was the CAA men’s soccer Player of the Year and one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy, topped Delaware with 12 goals, five assists and 29 points this season. He helped lead the Blue Hens to their first CAA men’s soccer championship and a first-round upset of Virginia in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
Smith was also one of 15 semifinalists for the Hermann Trophy after receiving first-team All-CAA accolades. He led the CAA and was among the top scorers in the nation this season with 16 goals and 34 points as the Monarchs reached the CAA championship game and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
VCU freshman defender Juan Monge Solano was chosen to the College Soccer News Freshman All-America second team. Solano anchored a Rams’ defense that allowed just 1.17 goals per game and recorded six shutouts. The first-team All-CAA pick also contributed offensively with five goals and an assist.
The CAA dominated the NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region team with players from the league filling 16 of the 33 slots on the three squads.
Five players made the All-Region first team as Frimpong, Smith and Wyatt were joined by Old Dominion junior goalkeeper Victor Francoz (1.38 GAA, 86 svs., 6 ShO) and Hofstra sophomore defender Shaun Foster (5g, 1a), who earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season.
Chosen to the All-Region second team were VCU’s Solano, Northeastern sophomore midfielder Dante Marini (7g, 5a), Old Dominion sophomore midfielder Gideon Asante (7g, 9a), Delaware sophomore forward Roberto Gimenez (10g, 7a), Old Dominion sophomore forward Tim Hopkinson (10g, 8a) and James Madison senior forward Patrick Innes (13g, 3a).
Earning third-team All-Region honors were JMU senior goalkeeper Justin Epperson (1.22 GAA, 57 svs., 9 ShO), Georgia State sophomore defender Chris Locandro, Delaware senior defender Darren O’Connor, William & Mary senior midfielder Nicolas Abrigo (9g, 2a) and VCU sophomore forward Jason Johnson (11g, 1a).