Men's Soccer All-Conference Awards Announced
Austin Quinn
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Embry-Riddle’s Sam Fairhurst and Nils Carlson headlined the 2011 Sun Conference Men’s Soccer All-Conference team, which was announced by the league office Thursday night at conference banquet being held at St. Thomas University. Fairhurst was selected as the Offensive Player of the Year, while Carlson garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors.
A junior midfielder from Wigan, England, Fairhurst was also tabbed as the overall Player of the Year after leading the Eagles to a share of the regular season conference title. Fairhurst, who transferred to ERAU from NAIA powerhouse Rio Grande, anchored the Embry-Riddle offense in the midfield during the 2011 season. He played in 16 games and currently shares the lead on the team with 10 assists. The junior is also ranked 19th in the NAIA in assists per game (.630) and 23rd in total assists. He has scored four goals, taken 39 shots (14 on goal), and collected 19 points on the year. Fairhurst is the eighth player in ERAU history to win Conference Player of the Year honors.
Carlson, a true freshman, has been stellar in his first year between the pipes for Embry-Riddle. The Vastra, Sweden native has allowed only 14 goals and garnered 61 saves on the year. He has recorded eight clean sheets and currently ranks No.15 in the nation in goals against per game (.800). Carlson was also named the Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Week four times in 2011.
Southeastern senior midfielder Andy Osborn was the recipient of the 2011 Sun Conference Champion Character Award. The Brighton, Colo. native played in 17 games for the Fire and garnered one assist on the year.
Coach of the Year honors went to Ave Maria’s Joseph Zakowicz. Along with picking up his 200th career victory, Zakowicz turned around the Gyrene’s soccer program in his first year. He helped the Gyrenes to a 5-9-1 overall record, 2-6-1 in league play and placed two of his players on the All-Conference roster.
First Team
GK- Nils Carlson, Embry-Riddle
GK- Ross Faulds, SCAD Savannah
Def- Richard Langthorne, SCAD Savannah
Def- Matthias Klatt, Embry-Riddle
Def- Ally MacDonald, Embry-Riddle
Def- Oliver Moffat, Northwood
Mid- Sam Fairhurst, Embry-Riddle
Mid- Liam McInally, Northwood
Mid- Eran Belo, St. Thomas
Mid- Michael Donald, Embry-Riddle
Fwd- Marcus Johanson, Northwood
Fwd- Viktor Gudnason, Embry-Riddle
Fwd- Jonathan Rico, St. Thomas
Fwd- Veit Couturier, Embry-Riddle
Second Team
GK- Matthew Brust, Webber International
Def- Brinton Nute, SCAD Savannah
Def- Aaron Benttrinder, St. Thomas
Def- Olli Isosalo, Northwood
Mid- Ryan Middleton, SCAD Savannah
Mid- Pablo Garcia, Florida Memorial
Mid- Mario Black, Ave Maria
Mid- Patricio Torello, SCAD Savannah
Mid- Andres Guerra, Ave Maria
Fwd- Diego de la Fuente, Warner
Fwd- Paulo Vaz, Florida Memorial
Fwd- Anel Coralic, Embry-Riddle
Fwd- Mayowa Tola-Isaac, Northwood
Player of the Year
Sam Fairhurst, Embry-Riddle
Offensive Player of the Year
Sam Fairhurst, Embry-Riddle
Defensive Player of the Year
Nils Carlson, Embry-Riddle
Champions of Character Award
Andy Osborn, Southeastern
Coach of the Year
Joseph Zakowicz, Ave Maria