GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) has announced its 2016 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. 

 

Keuka College senior Paulin Kolodja (Rochester, N.Y.) was named the NEAC Player of the Year following a tremendous season for the Wolves.  The forward paced the Keuka offense throughout the season after dishing out a NEAC-best 11 assists through 17 contests, which also ranks him in the top-25 nationally for assists and marked the second-highest single-season total in program history.  Kolodja also scored a team-best 13 goals to total 37 points on the year, placing him second in the NEAC in the latter category.  He recorded at least one point in 13 different games, including his biggest yet after netting the game winner in Tuesday's 1-0 quarterfinal-round victory in the NEAC Tournament.  Kolodja's efforts also landed him on the All-Conference First Team.

 

Morrisville State College senior Alan Peckham (Webster, N.Y.) was selected as the NEAC Defensive Player of the Year after an excellent season for the Mustangs.  Peckham started in 15 games for the Mustangs at center back and controlled the back line for Morrisville State, taking charge of a defensive unit that limited opponents to a .101 shot percentage and just 16 goals scored on the year. His play was also key to the Mustangs posting six shutout performances on the year, including five against NEAC opponents.  Peckham also provided some offense this season after posting one goal and three assists.  A two-time NEAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, Peckham was also selected to the NEAC All-Conference Team for the fourth straight season.

 

Morrisville State College freshman Griffen MacWatters (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) also took home NEAC Rookie of the Year honors following a terrific debut season for the Mustangs.  A playmaker in the transition game, the midfielder appeared in 15 games for the Mustangs and posted eight goals and four assists for 20 points in his first season. Twice on the year he had game-winning tallies, with both coming in conference play, while also recording two-goal performances three times on the season.  An Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North Region Rookie of the Week honoree during the season, MacWatters also earned a spot on the NEAC All-Conference First Team.  MacWatters and Peckham teamed to guide the Mustangs to their third straight regular season conference title and allow the two-time defending-champion Mustangs to enter the NEAC Tournament as the top seed.

 

Penn State Abington's David Castellanos was dubbed the NEAC Coach of the Year following a tremendous season at the helm of the Nittany Lions.  Featuring a young squad that has just one senior on the roster, Castellanos led the team to a 10-2-1 record in conference play, which earned the Nittany Lions the second seed in the NEAC Championship Tournament.  His squad also boasted a conference-best .565 shots-on-goal percentage en route to a 12-3-1 overall record. 

 

 

Below are the 2016 NEAC Men's Soccer All-Conference First Team, Second Team and Third Team selections:

 

*Denotes at-large selection

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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.