Somerset, NJ -- Quinnipiac junior forward Everson Maciel (Londrina - PR, Brazil/Maxi) was selected the Northeast Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year in a vote by league head coaches. The talented Maciel emerged as the NEC’s most dangerous scoring threat this fall, despite being the constant focus of opponent’s game plans. UMBC freshman forward Derek McElligott (Baltimore, MD/Greater Grace Christian Academy) was named the league’s Rookie of the Year, while Bill Denniston of Robert Morris was tabbed as NEC Coach of the Year. Denniston guided the Colonials to a share of the NEC regular season title this year, as well as the #1 seed in this weekend’s league tournament. Under Denniston’s guidance, RMC will be making its first postseason appearance since 1996.

The 2001 NEC Men’s Soccer Championships will be hosted by Quinnipiac this weekend in Hamden, Connecticut. On Friday, November 9, #1 seed Robert Morris will take on #4 Long Island at 11:00 a.m. in a semifinal matchup. The second semifinal is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., and features #2 Fairleigh Dickinson versus #3 UMBC. The championship game will be held on Sunday, November 11 at 12:00 p.m., with the winner receiving the NEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA men’s soccer tournament.

Maciel, an all-NEC first teamer in 2000, leads the league in virtually every offensive category including scoring (38 pts/17 g/4 a), points per game (2.38) and goals per game (1.06). Maciel’s impressive numbers also rank him among the nation’s best, as he currently is tied for second in goals per game and ranks sixth in points per game in the latest NCAA statistics. A two-time NEC Player of the Week honoree, Maciel recently established a new Quinnipiac record by scoring in 24 straight games over the past two years. Maciel recorded 59 points (24 goals & 11 assists) over the span of his remarkable scoring streak.

McElligott made an immediate impact on the UMBC program this season, as he leads the Retrievers in scoring (27 pts/12 g/3 a), points per game (1.69) and goals per game (0.75). McElligott’s offensive totals also rank him first among all Northeast Conference newcomers this year. A three-time NEC Rookie of the Week recipient, McElligott has netted three game-winning goals, as well as a pair of "hat tricks," for the playoff-bound Retrievers.

Two other UMBC standouts earn all-league honors along with McElligott. Senior midfielder P.J. Wakefield (Overlea. MD/Calvert Hall) contributed 11 points (5 g/1 a) on his way to earning all-NEC status for a second consecutive year. The Retrievers are also represented on the first team by one of the finest defenders in league history, senior Andy Wells (Essex, England/The Sweyne School). A four-time all-NEC selection, Wells complemented his standout defensive work this year by registering 11 points (5 g/1 a) for the Retrievers. Wells also made his goals count, as four of his five tallies served as game-winners.

Defending NEC champion Fairleigh Dickinson is well represented on the first team, producing three all-NEC players. The Knights, who claimed a share of the regular season crown this year, were paced offensively by junior forward Aaron Paye (Brooklyn Center, MN/Champlin). Paye ranks second in the conference in both goals (13) and points (32). Junior Johnny David (Hillside, NJ/Hillside (St. Peter’s College)), a second team all-star last year, posted 13 points (4 g/5 a) from his midfield position. Senior netminder Vytautus Lenkutis (Vilnius, Lithuania/Gabijos) rounds out FDU’s first team contingent. Lenkutis ranks second in the NEC with a 1.24 goals against average and has recorded a league-best .815 save percentage.

Brothers Jamie and Rhian Dodds (Hamilton, Ont./Sir Allen McNabb) both earn first team honors at midfield for a resurgent Robert Morris program. Jamie, a talented sophomore, ranks third in the NEC in points (29) and fourth in assists (seven). Rhian, a junior, provided veteran leadership from his midfield spot while also ranking third on the playoff-bound Colonials in scoring (14 pts/5 g/4 a).

St. Francis (NY) junior defender Joseph Afful (Brooklyn, NY/St. Augustine’s (Ghana)) emerged as one of the NEC’s most well-rounded players this season. Afful provided a strong presence on both ends of the field, as he finished the season ranked second on SFNY in both goals (six) and scoring (15 pts/6 g/3 a).

Completing the all-NEC first team is St. Francis (PA) senior defender Matt Rosenfeld (Thunder Bay, Ont./Saint Patrick’s). Rosenfeld makes the move up from the second team last year, as his aggressive work on defense helped the Red Flash allow a league low 1.11 goals per game.

The 2001 second team is headlined by three newcomers who helped lead Long Island back to the NEC playoffs for the first time since 1997. Sophomore forward Oskar Tilly (Karlstad, Sweden/Southampton) provided LIU with a skilled presence up front and his five goals rank him second on the team. Sophomore midfielder David Schofield (Preston, England/Rio Grande (OH) College) ranks second in the NEC and 19th nationally in assists (10 a/0.59 apg). Freshman defender Jonas Stigh (Trollhattan, Sweden/Magnus Albergsgymnasiet) rounds out the LIU contingent, as he has anchored the Blackbirds defense this season. The UMBC midfield was in good hands this year with seniors Ricky Brown (Waldorf, MD/Thomas Stone) and James Hamilton (W. Yorkshire, England/Hipperholm & Lightcliffe). Brown tied for second on the team with 13 points (5 g/3 a), while Hamilton leads the NEC and is tied for eighth nationally in assists (10 a/0.67 apg). Robert Morris was recognized as two of its key players earned second team accolades. Junior back Shawn Kerr (Scarborough, Ont./Winston Churchill) spearheaded a Colonials’ defense that allowed just 1.39 goals per game, while senior goalkeeper Matt Henson (Fairfax, VA/Lake Braddock) ranked third in the NEC in both goals against average (1.34) and save percentage (.800). St. Francis (NY) places two players on the second team in sophomore forward Ricardo Ordain (Brooklyn, NY/Col. Tecnico de Limon) and senior midfielder Ron Azinge (Brooklyn, NY/Sarah J. Hale). Ordain led SFNY in scoring (19 pts/9 g/1 a), while Azinge developed into one of the NEC’s most reliable midfielders by the end of the season. Central Connecticut State junior defender Lee Owler (Blackburn, England/Albany) helped the Blue Devils record a five-win improvement from last season, the biggest turnaround of any NEC program. Sacred Heart junior forward Franco Cartiera (New Britain, CT/New Britain) completes the second team. The first Pioneer to ever earn all-NEC honors, Cartiera paced SHU in every major statistical category including scoring (26 pts/10 g/6 a), points per game (1.63), goals per game (0.63) and assists per game (0.38).

 

2001 NEC Men’s Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year
Everson Maciel	Quinnipiac	F	Jr	Londrina - PR, Brazil/Maxi
Rookie of the Year
Derek McElligott	UMBC	F	Fr	Baltimore, MD/Greater Grace Christian Acad.
Coach of the Year
Bill Denniston	Robert Morris
2001 NEC Men’s Soccer First Team All-Conference
Name	School	Pos	Yr	Hometown/High School
Everson Maciel	Quinnipiac	F	Jr	Londrina - PR, Brazil/Maxi
Derek McElligott	UMBC	F	Fr	Baltimore, MD/Greater Grace Christian Acad.
Aaron Paye	Fairleigh Dickinson	F	Jr	Brooklyn Center, MN/Champlin
Johnny David	Fairleigh Dickinson	MF	Jr	Hillside, NJ/Hillside (St. Peter’s College)
Jamie Dodds	Robert Morris	MF	So	Hamilton, Ont./Sir Allen McNabb
Rhian Dodds	Robert Morris	MF	Jr	Hamilton, Ont/Sir Allen McNabb
P.J. Wakefield	UMBC	MF	Sr	Overlea, MD/Calvert Hall
Joseph Afful	St. Francis (NY)	D	Jr	Brooklyn, NY/St. Augustine’s (Ghana)
Matt Rosenfeld	St. Francis (PA)	D	Sr	Thunder Bay, Ont./Saint Patrick’s
Andy Wells	UMBC	D	Sr	Essex, England/The Sweyne School
Vytautus Lenkutis	Fairleigh Dickinson	GK	Sr	Vilnius, Lithuania/Gabijos
2001 NEC Men’s Soccer Second Team All-Conference
Name	School	Pos	Yr	Hometown/High School
Franco Cartiera	Sacred Heart	F	Jr	New Britain, CT/New Britain
Ricardo Ordain	St. Francis (NY)	F	So	Brooklyn, NY/Col. Tecnico de Limon
Oskar Tilly	Long Island	F	So	Karlstad, Sweden/Southampton
Ron Azinge	St. Francis (NY)	MF	Sr	Brooklyn, NY/Sarah J. Hale
Ricky Brown	UMBC	MF	Sr	Waldorf, MD/Thomas Stone
James Hamilton	UMBC	MF	Sr	W. Yorkshire, England/Hipperholme & Lightcliffe
David Schofield	Long Island	MF	So	Preston, England/Rio Grande (OH) College
Shawn Kerr	Robert Morris	D	Jr	Scarborough, Ont./Winston Churchill
Lee Owler	Central Conn. St.	D	Jr	Blackburn, England/Albany
Jonas Stigh	Long Island	D	Fr	Trollhattan, Sweden/Magnus Albergsgymnasiet
Matt Henson	Robert Morris	GK	Sr	Fairfax, VA/Lake Braddock