Makengo, Espinola Headline PSAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Mercyhurst junior Christopher Makengo was tabbed the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Year, the league announced Tuesday afternoon in conjunction with the release of the all-conference men’s soccer teams.
Makengo is the fourth Laker to garner the award and it marks the fourth time in the last five season that MU has claimed the honor. The junior paced the league in points (30), shots (80), shots per match (4.71) while tying for PSAC lead in match-winning goals (4) and goals (12). Makengo produced three multi-goal matches and paced the Lakers to a 12-6 record on the season.
East Stroudsburg senior Keelby Espinola was tabbed the Defensive Athlete of the Year and spearheaded a Warrior defense that allowed only 0.79 goals per contest. ESU has allowed one goal since Oct. 10 and won the PSAC Title on Sunday after defeating Gannon, 1-0. ESU won its 20th crown in school history. Espinola is the first Warrior to garner the award and first ESU representative to win a major award since 2006. He has started all 69 matches in his collegiate career as ESU’s primary center back, including all 19 games this fall. He leads a defense which has produced nine shutouts this season, including seven in the past eight contests. The senior has also contributed three goals and an assist offensively this season. He scored the game-winning goal in ESU’s 3-0 victory over MU in the PSAC quarterfinals.
Seton Hill’s Henrik Berg was named the Freshman of the Year. Berg is the first Griffin to claim a major men’s soccer award. He led the team with 12 goals, four match-winning goals and 27 points. His 12 goals tied him for second in the PSAC. Berg sits third in points in the league. The freshman produced five multi-goal games.
West Chester’s Michael Benn claimed the Coach of the Year accolade for the second time in his career (2013). Benn’s Golden Rams cruised the PSAC slate while posting a flawless 11-0 mark. WCU advanced to the semifinals before falling in penalty kicks. The Golden Rams earned the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Region in the NCAA DII Men’s Soccer Championship. WCU will host ESU Saturday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. in the first round. Benn paced five WCU athletes to all-conference recognition this season.
Millersville’s Kyle Finsterbush appears on his third all-conference team.
A full list of honorees is below.
PSAC Men’s Soccer Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Christopher Makengo, Mercyhurst
Defensive Athlete of the Year: Keelby Espinola, East Stroudsburg
Freshman of the Year: Henrik Berg, Seton Hill
Coach of the Year: Michael Benn, West Chester
PSAC Men’s Soccer First-Team All-Conference
| Position |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown/Previous |
| Defense |
Keelby Espinola^ |
Sr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Franklin Towne Charter |
| Defense |
George Stannard |
R-Sr. |
Gannon |
Hull, England / Cottingham |
| Defense |
Tim French |
Sr. |
West Chester |
Bensalem, Pa. / Holy Ghost Prep |
| Defense |
Kyle Hoops |
Jr. |
West Chester |
Phoenixville, Pa. / Great Valley |
| Forward |
Henrik Berg |
Fr. |
Seton Hill |
AASA, Sweden / Elof Lindaely Gymnasium |
| Forward |
Mathias Krigbaum |
So. |
Gannon |
Greve, Denmark / Greve Gymnasium |
| Forward |
Eddy Enowbi |
Jr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Silver Spring, Md. / Keystone |
| Forward |
Chase Flickinger |
Jr. |
Millersville |
Spring Grove, Pa. / Spring Grove |
| Forward# |
Fjodor van Kippersluis |
Fr. |
Mercyhurst |
Bussum, The Netherlands / Sint Vitus |
| Midfield |
Christian Bukowski |
Sr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Stroudsburg, Pa. / Stroudsburg |
| Midfield |
Christopher Makengo |
Jr. |
Mercyhurst |
Lyon, France / Lycée Pierre Brossolette |
| Midfield |
Brett Glasco |
Sr. |
West Chester |
West Chester, Pa. / Rustin |
| Midfield |
Eduardo de Bonis Encinoso |
Jr. |
Gannon |
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / Escuelas Pias Tenerife |
| Goalie |
Matt Palmer^ |
Sr. |
West Chester |
Bangor, Pa. / Bangor |
PSAC Men’s Soccer Second-Team All-Conference
| Position |
Name |
Cl. |
University |
Hometown/Previous |
| Defense |
Patrick Sullivan^ |
R-Sr. |
Slippery Rock |
Gibsonia, Pa. / Duquesne |
| Defense |
Jan Striewe |
Sr. |
Shippensburg |
Duisburg, Germany / Williams Baptist |
| Defense |
Nathan Maynard |
Fr. |
Millersville |
Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area |
| Defense |
Andrew Bennett |
Sr. |
Mercyhurst |
Southport, England / Christ the King Catholic |
| Defense |
Kyle Finsterbush^* |
Jr. |
Millersville |
Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area |
| Forward |
Doug Goitia |
Fr. |
West Chester |
Mount Pocono, Pa. / Pocono Mountain East |
| Forward |
Cole Kropnick |
Jr. |
Shippensburg |
Blue Bell, Pa. / Wissahickon |
| Forward |
Hady Sarr |
So. |
Mercyhurst |
Dakar, Senegal / West African College of the Atlantic |
| Midfield |
Srdjan Dujkovic |
Sr. |
Gannon |
Darmstadt, Germany |
| Midfield |
George Oakley |
Jr. |
Slippery Rock |
Huddersfield, England / Huddersfield New College |
| Midfield |
Brandon Levano |
Jr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Allentown, Pa. / Loyola |
| Midfield |
Jo Panuccio |
Jr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Rider |
| Goalie |
Will Boerema |
Jr. |
East Stroudsburg |
Buffalo, N.Y. / St. Joeseph/s Collegiate Institute |
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection
# Number of honorees altered due to tie