GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its 2015 Men’s Soccer All-Conference selections, with first, second and third team honors being awarded by position to a total of 33 student-athletes, as selected by the conference coaches.

The NEAC has also announced its men’s soccer individual award winners, as also selected by the conference coaches. 

 

Lancaster Bible College senior Josiah Groff (Lancaster, Pa.) has been chosen as the NEAC Player of the Year after a tremendous season for the Chargers.  The midfielder started in all 21 Charger contests and led the conference in goals with 13, assists with 11 and points with 37, while also netting a NEAC-best five game-winning scores on the season.  Groff compiled 26 of those points against NEAC opponents on the season, helping the Chargers go 8-3-1 in conference play to secure a spot in the NEAC Championship Tournament, where he again came up big after assisting on the game-winning goal to lift the Chargers to a 1-0 victory in overtime during the quarterfinal round Wednesday.  A NEAC Offensive Player of the Week honoree this season, Groff was also chosen to the NEAC All-Conference First Team.

 

 

Morrisville State College senior Danny Peckham (Webster, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Defensive Player of the Year after an outstanding season for the Mustangs.  Peckham started in all 17 Mustang contests at the center back position, leading a Morrisville State defensive unit that allowed a mere 0.91 goals-against average on the season, which included a conference-best mark of 0.56 in NEAC play on just seven goals allowed.  He also was a main factor in the team posting seven shutouts on the year, with five coming against conference opponents en route to the Mustangs capturing their second straight NEAC regular season title and the top seed of the six-team NEAC Championship Tournament.  A NEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection this season, Peckham also notched five points on an assist and a pair of goals, including a game winner.  Peckham also landed on the NEAC All-Conference First Team for the fourth straight season.

 

 

Penn State Berks freshman Omar Guzman (Reading, Pa.) was selected as the NEAC Rookie of the Year after a terrific debut season for the Nittany Lions.  The midfielder led all conference rookies and was second overall in both goals (12) and points (29), while tying for third in assists with five. Guzman scored a goal in eight different contests, including three games with at least two scores, while also recording three game winners to help the Nittany Lions secure a playoff spot in the NEAC Tournament with a 7-5 mark in conference play.  An 18-game starter for Berks, Guzman also garnered a spot on the NEAC All-Conference First Team.     

 

 

 

Wells College head coach Dan Kane was voted as the NEAC Coach of the Year after an excellent season at the helm for the Express.  Kane led Wells to a 12-6 overall record that included a 9-3 mark in NEAC play, which set the program records for most conference wins and most overall victories in addition to best winning percentage (.667).  Kane, who has improved his team's winning percentage in all seven seasons since joining the Express in 2009, also led his squad to single-season program records for points scored (94), points per game (5.22) and assists (30).  The effort landed the Express as the No. 2 seed in the NEAC Championship Tournament.

 

 

 

Below are the NEAC Men’s Soccer All-Conference First Team, Second Team and Third Team selections:

 

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has fourteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Cedar Crest College (W Swimming), D’Youville College (M Volleyball), Hilbert College (M Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse & M Volleyball), Penn State Altoona (M Volleyball) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of field hockey and men’s and women’s tennis.