USA South 2019 Men's Soccer Awards Announced

Release Link: https://usasouth.net/sports/msoc/2019-20/releases/20191025diokn3

The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2019 All-Conference awards for men's soccer. N.C. Wesleyan's Baboucarr Njie was named Player of the Year, Mary Baldwin's Carr Panetta claimed Rookie of the Year honors while the Covenant duo of Paul Lemay and Scott Bosgraf were named Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. Additionally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school.

All awards are voted on by the men's soccer coach at each institution.

Njie, a junior forward from Washington, D.C., becomes the first N.C. Wesleyan men's soccer student-athlete to be named USA South Player of the Year since 2008. He adds this honor to his Rookie of the Year award he received in 2016 becoming the first Battling Bishop to collect two individual men's soccer accolades in a career. Njie currently leads the League in scoring with 37 points on a Conference-high 15 goals to go along with five assists and three game-winning scores. Against USA South competition alone, Njie posted Conference highs of 33 points and 13 goals. For his efforts this fall, Njie was named First Team All-Conference at forward for the first time after he collected First Team honors twice as a midfielder his first two seasons. Finally, Njie was named USA South Player of the Week once this year.

Njie helped the Bishops and head coach Meir Lewin win the East Division Title this season with a 12-1 conference record and 14-2-1 overall record. It is their 9th regular season championship in school history and 7th since 2004.

For their stellar seasons, senior defender Joe Brooks and sophomore midfielder Matteo Costa were also each named to the all-conference first team at their respective positions. Costa finished the season with 9 goals and 1 assist for 19 points while Brooks had 3 goals and helped lead the Bishop defense all year long. Brooks' backline mate, senior Dimas Reyes was also named to the Conference All-Sportsmanship Team for his leadership all season long. Reyes scored his first two career goals this season as well.

Sophomore forward Lorenzo Cocchia also had a quality season that earned him Third team All-Conference honors with his 7 goals and 5 assists on the year while sophomore goalkeeper  Tobias Borzel was also named to the third team for his 45 saves, .714 save % and 8 shutouts.  Senior midfielder Mamadou Jallow was also named to the all-conference second team as well

The men will next take to the field on Saturday when they host #4 seed Mary Baldwin University in First round tournament action at 2:00 Pm. 

Tickets are $3 for Students, faculty, and staff while all other adults are $6. 

Additionally, Student Life will be paying for the first 100 students.

Player of the Year	Rookie of the Year	Goalkeeper of the Year	Coach of the Year
Baboucarr Njie N.C. Wesleyan	Carr Panetta Mary Baldwin	Paul Lemay Covenant	Scott Bosgraf Covenant

The 2019 USA South Men's Soccer All-Conference Team: