SMU lands 5 on All-C-USA men's soccer teams

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Five Mustangs Tabbed All-Conference
Diogo de Almeida named Defensive Player of the Year

Nov. 8, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - Five SMU men's soccer players were selected to All-Conference USA teams and senior Diogo de Almeida was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, Conference USA announced today.

In addition to his player of the year recognition, de Almeida was tabbed First Team All-C-USA. The defender started 16 games for the Mustangs, netting four goals and averaging over 93 minutes per game. He had a three-game goal-scoring streak from Oct. 12-21, including back-to-back game-winning goals against FIU and Missouri State.

Fellow senior Arthur Ivo was named First Team All-Conference USA for the second consecutive season. The midfielder has appeared in 16 games for SMU and leads the team in goals (6), assists (8) and points (20). He is also tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (3), including overtime game-clinchers at Duke and South Carolina.

Sophomore Juan Castillo made his second appearance on the All-Conference second team in as many seasons. Castillo has started 16 games at forward for the Mustangs, tallying five goals and assisting on three others. Along with Ivo, Castillo has scored three game-winners; against Dartmouth in overtime, at No. 18 UCLA and at Tulsa.

Junior T.J. Nelson was also selected Second Team All-C-USA. The midfielder has started every game for the Mustangs this year, playing 1534 of a possible 1590 minutes on the season. He also earned as assist against No. 14 UCF.

Freshman standout Aaron Simmons rounds out the Mustang honors as he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team for his spectacular inaugural season on SMU's back line. The defender has started all 17 games at center back, missing only 19 minutes the entire season. He has also contributed offensively, scoring a goal against No. 13 William & Mary in his first career game, and assisting on the overtime game-winning goal against Dartmouth.

SMU plays Marshall in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championship tomorrow, Nov. 9, at 5 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla.

C-USA Specialty Awards
Player of the Year - Mark Sherrod, Memphis
Offensive Player of the Year - Mark Sherrod, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year - Diogo de Almeida, SMU
Freshman of the Year - Tony Rocha, Tulsa
Coach of the Year - Mark Berson, South Carolina

All-Conference First Team
F - Mark Sherrod, Memphis
F - Arthur Ivo, SMU
F - Bradlee Baladez, South Carolina
F - Babayele Sodade, UAB
M - Liam Collins, MEM
M - Warren Creavalle, UCF
M - Kevan George, UCF
D - Anthony Hobbs, FIU
D - Diogo de Almeida, SMU
D - Andrew Quintana, UCF
GK - Daniel Withrow, Marshall

All-Conference Second Team
F - Juan Castillo, SMU
F - Corey Albertson, Tulsa
M - Tom Jackson, Marshall
M - Anthony Virgara, Marshall
M - T.J. Nelson, SMU
M - Stephen Morrissey, South Carolina
M - Omar Mata, Tulsa
D - Dylan Asher, Kentucky
D - J.J. Greer, Memphis
D - Reed Matte, UAB
GK - Carl Woszczynski, UAB

All-Conference Third Team
F - Quentin Albrecht, FIU
F - Matt Lodge, Kentucky
F - Tyler Riggs, Kentucky
F - McKauly Tulloch, UCF
M - Braeden Troyer, South Carolina
M - Tony Rocha, Tulsa
M - Nik Robson, UCF
D - Danny Cates, South Carolina
D - Blaine Gonsalves, Tulsa
D - Mladen Lemez, UAB
GK - Conor Hurley, Memphis

All-Freshman Team
F - Quentin Albrecht, FIU
D - Marco Bordon, Kentucky
M - Jahvon Allison, Marshall
D - Chandler Gagnon, Memphis
M - Wil Linder, Memphis
D - Aaron Simmons, SMU
M - Braeden Troyer, South Carolina
M - Abe Matamoros, Tulsa
F - Stephen Roberson, Tulsa
M - Tony Rocha, Tulsa
D - Darion Copeland, UAB
F - Diego Navarrete, UAB
D - Leo Ayala, UCF

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Man this is awesome! Congratulations to all of the players who were recognized today!

I'm especially happy for Diogo though. He has had such a fantastic four years at SMU and has been such a beast on the field this season both on defense and on offense. The defensive player of the year award is certainly well deserved!

[2ndandlong]

Awesome! Go Ponies!

[Dutch]

Go mustangs