The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Three Named All-Conference for Nationally-Ranked Blazers
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 31, 2006
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB men's soccer team received a double-dose of good news on Tuesday, one day prior to its first round match against South Carolina in the opening round of the 2006 Conference USA Tournament. According to Soccer Times, the Blazers re-enter the weekly polls, coming in at No. 25 in the nation after an upset of then-No. 1 SMU. Additionally, three men's soccer players were named to the 2006 All-Conference USA team, announced league officials on Tuesday.
"It's a good day for UAB soccer," head coach Mike Getman said. "As a team, we are peaking at just the right time, and have won three of our last four games, two of which came against very good teams (1-0 overtime win vs. then-No. 18 Kentucky and 2-1 victory over then-No. 1 SMU). Not only are we back in the top 25, but we have three deserving players who were named to the all-conference team. I am extremely happy on both accounts."
Senior forward Jerson Monteiro and sophomore midfielder/defender Dejan Jakovic each earned First Team All-Conference USA accolades, while sophomore midfielder Two-Boys Gumede was tabbed a second team honoree. Each player earned a spot on last year's all-conference squad, while Monteiro and Jakovic were selected to the 2006 preseason all-conference team.
"This is a great honor for three terrific players," Getman said. "We are certainly pleased that the coaches have chosen to honor these individuals for their performances this year. Each of these players worked very hard this year and has played a key role in our success this season."
Monteiro enters the conference tournament as one of the top players in the league, leading the team in goals (12), assists (6) and points (30) on the campaign. He also leads C-USA with 15 points in conference games. Furthermore, the Houston, Texas native currently ranks second in school history with 32 goals and 79 points during his outstanding career. This year's award marks the fourth consecutive year Monteiro earned a spot on a C-USA All-Conference team.
Like Monteiro, both Jakovic and Gumede have earned a spot on the all-conference team during their two seasons in the Green and Gold. Jakovic, who earned second-team honors as a freshman, joins Monteiro on the league's first team. The Toronto, Ontario native began the season in the defense, where he helped UAB to two shutouts in its first three games. Jakovic showed his versatility, making the move to attacking midfielder. Since the move, Jakovic has recorded one goal and four assists, and ranks fourth on the squad with six points during the season.
Gumede, who was tabbed to the 2005 C-USA All-Freshman Team, earned second team honors in 2006. Gumede has accounted for a goal and five assists this season, with all but one assist coming against C-USA opposition. The Louisville, Ky. native's seven points on the campaign rank third-most on the team.
All three have made it tough on opponents in Conference USA, as the trio ranks at the top of UAB's offense, accounting for seven goals and 11 assists against league opposition.
SMU nearly made it a clean sweep in the individual awards. Mustang senior Bruno Guarda was named the C-USA Player of the Year, while senior Jay Needham also picked up C-USA Defensive Player of the Year honors after earning a preseason nod for the same. SMU head coach Schellas Hyndman was named the C-USA Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to the top spot in the country most of the season.
For the second year in a row, South Carolina has produced the C-USA Freshman of the Year winner as midfielder Jeff Scannella takes the 2006 honor, while Memphis midfielder Kevin Walsh was named the C-USA Newcomer of the Year.
Besides SMU's five selections to the All-Conference USA first team, UAB was joined by Kentucky and South Carolina with each school producing two first-team selections.
UAB earned the fifth seed in this week's Conference USA Tournament after finishing 9-6-2 overall and 4-3-1 in the league through the regular season. The Blazers face rival South Carolina at 2:30 p.m. CT Wednesday in the first of four quarterfinal match ups.
2006 C-USA MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
Player of the Year
Bruno Guarda, MF, SMU
Defensive Player of the Year
Jay Needham, D, SMU
Freshman of the Year
Jeff Scannella, MF, South Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Kevin Walsh, MF, Memphis
Coach of the Year
Schellas Hyndman, SMU
All-Conference First Team
F: Jerson Monteiro, UAB
F: Riley O'Neill, Kentucky
F: Mike Sambursky, South Carolina
MF: Mike D'Agostino, Kentucky
MF: Bruno Guarda, SMU
MF: Dejan Jakovic, UAB
MF: Chase Wileman, SMU
D: Mynor Gonzalez, SMU
D: Ryan Leeton, South Carolina
D: Jay Needham, SMU
GK: Matt Wideman, SMU
All-Conference Second Team
F: Zak Boggs, UCF
F: Adrian Chevannes, SMU
F: David Hope, Florida International
F: Jose Parada, Tulsa
MF: Two-Boys Gumede, UAB
MF: Ralph Pace, South Carolina
MF: Matt Thomas, Tulsa
MF: Kevin Walsh, Memphis
D: Makan Hislop, South Carolina
D: Jeff Lenix, Marshall
D: Nathan Marks, Kentucky
GK: Mike Gustavson, South Carolina
All-Conference Third Team
F: Ayo Akinsete, South Carolina
F: Karim Boukhemis, Marshall
F: Eric Burkholder, Tulsa
MF: Dadi Kristjánsson, Florida International
MF: Jeff Scannella, South Carolina
MF: Ben Shuleva, SMU
MF: Masumi Turnbull, Kentucky
D: Chris Clements, Tulsa
D: Jamie Gilbert, Memphis
D: Ryan Mirsky, SMU
GK: Dan Williams, Kentucky
All-Freshman Team
Christian Caporaletti, F/MF, Florida International
Barry Rice, D, Kentucky
Dan Williams, GK, Kentucky
Leone Cruz, D, SMU
Stephen Grant, D, SMU
Jeff Scannella, MF, South Carolina
Mark Wiltse, MF/D, South Carolina
Hunter Christiansen, MF, Tulsa
Jose Parada, MF/F, Tulsa
Akin Akinrinade, D, UCF
Cam Jordan, MF, UCF
