Hall and Gonzalez Named First-Team All-ACC in Men's Soccer
11/11/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 11, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Maryland men's soccer program faired nicely in the ACC men's soccer all-conference selections, tabbing eight to the first-, second- and all-freshman teams, as announced by the league office Tuesday.
Headlining for the Terps were juniors Omar Gonzalez and Jeremy Hall, who landed on the first-team. Gonzalez, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007, picked up his first first-team honor in a Maryland uniform while helping the Terrapin backline hold opponents to only 17 goals in 18 games. Hall, a second-team selection last season and former ACC Freshman of the Year pick, has been spectacular as of late, tallying nine goals in the last nine games and leading the Terps with 11 goals and 27 points.
Maryland placed three on the second team, including seniors A.J. Delagarza and Graham Zusi and sophomore Rodney Wallace. It is the first all-conference accolade for Delagarza, a defender, and Zusi, a midfielder. Delagarza, along with Gonzalez, has started in every match this season on the Maryland defense and has started a consecutive 60 contests for the Terps. Zusi has monitored the midfield all season long, tallying three goals - all game-winners - and four assists in 16 games. Wallace, an all-freshman team pick in 2007, has been a steady force for the Terps at outside back, picking up a pair of goals and three assists while helping patrol the backline.
The Terrapin freshmen, which were named the top recruiting class in the country earlier this year, lived up to their hype, placing three on the all-freshman team, including forward Casey Townsend, midfielder Matt Kassel and goalkeeper Zac MacMath. Townsend has amassed ten goals and three assists in his first year as a Terp. He ranks fifth in the ACC in goals and ninth in points (27). Kassel has started every match and racked up seven assists this season, a number that is tied for fifth in the ACC. After dropping his first career start at Maryland back in late August, MacMath has run off 11 straight wins and boasts five shutouts this season.
The Terps, a second-seed in the ACC Tournament, will play seventh-seeded North Carolina in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at noon at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
2008 All-ACC First Team
Ike Opara Wake Forest So. Defender
Omar Gonzalez Maryland Jr. Defender/Forward
Marcus Tracy Wake Forest Sr. Forward
Cody Arnoux Wake Forest Jr. Forward
Brian Shriver North Carolina Sr. Forward
Mike Grella Duke Sr. Forward
Sam Cronin Wake Forest Sr. Midfielder
Corben Bone Wake Forest So. Midfielder
Alejandro Bedoya Boston College Sr. Midfielder
Jeremy Hall Maryland Jr. Midfielder/Forward
Chris Brown Boston College Sr. Goalkeeper
2008 All-ACC Second Team
A.J. Delagarza Maryland Sr. Defender
Darrius Barnes Duke Sr. Defender
David Newton Clemson Jr. Defender
Ronnie Bouemboue NC State Jr. Forward
Graham Zusi Maryland Sr. Forward/Midfielde
Tony Tchani Virginia Fr. Midfielder
Michael Callahan North Carolina Sr. Midfielder
Alan Sanchez NC State Jr. Midfielder
Rodney Wallace Maryland So. Midfielder
Michael Lahoud Wake Forest Sr. Midfielder/Forward
Joseph Bendik Clemson Jr. Goalkeeper
2008 All-ACC Freshmen Team
Francklin Blaise Clemson Defender
Shawn Barry Virginia Defender
Danny Wenzel Wake Forest Defender
Sheanon Williams North Carolina Defender/Forward
Edvin Worley Boston College Forward
Casey Townsend Maryland Forward
Brian Ownby Virginia Forward
Kyle Bethel Duke Forward/Midfielder
Matt Kassel Maryland Midfielder
Tony Tchani Virginia Midfielder
Zac MacMath Maryland Goalkeeper
Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Grella, Duke
Defensive Player of the Year: Ike Opara, Wake Forest
Freshman of the Year: Tony Tchani, Virginia
Coach of the Year: Jay Vidovich, Wake Forest
