November 3, 2009
RAMS RULE THE EAST IN 2009 OUA SOCCER AWARDS
HAMILTON, Ont. - The Ryerson Rams collect top accolades as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announces the 2009 East men's soccer major award winners and all-stars.
Ryerson garners the three major player awards, including most valuable player, which is awarded to Alex Braletic (Thornhill, Ont.), a second-year midfielder. Braletic, who is also a first-team all-star for the first time, had a team-high three goals this season, helping the team to a 5-4-5 record, their best finish in several years.
Ryerson's Michael Jan (Toronto) is the recipient of the T. Litzen Sports East rookie of the year award. The first-year defender played in 13 games this season and scored two goals
The community service award, which is given to the player exemplifying the most commitment to his community through volunteering and involvement, goes to Ryerson's Anthony Volpe (Brampton, Ont.). The fourth-year goalkeeper has been a great asset to his team, challenging his teammates to play their best and helping the rookies keep up with the fast-paced life as student-athlete. Volpe has organized study sessions for the players and is there to assist when the team is on the road. He also keeps his teammates on schedule, making sure they attend classes and driving them to practices if classes run late. He is a leader, and well deserving of his captaincy.
Laurentian Voyageurs head coach Carlo Castrechino is the East coach of the year. Castrechino led the Voyageurs to a 6-6-2 record in regular season play, with the team ranked in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Top 10 for the first time in over a decade, reaching No. 7 in mid-September.
Laurentian also has strong presence on the first-team all-star list, as three players receive recognition. Fifth-year goalkeeper and 2008 East most valuable player Scott Cliff (Hanmer, Ont.) is the East first-team's all-star netminder for the second straight season. Cliff played in 14 games this season, recording five shutouts.
Laurentian defender Dan Mazzuca (Hamilton, Ont.) and midfielder Daniel Keir (Hamilton, Ont.) are also first-team all-stars. Keir cracked the Top 10 in OUA scoring with six goals this season. Mazzuca and Keir are both in their fifth year as Voyageurs.
Toronto also has three players on the first-team list this year, including striker Alex Raphael (East York, Ont.), who was fifth in OUA scoring this season with seven goals. Raphael, who makes his first appearance as an all-star, was second in scoring for the Varsity Blues.
Blues defender Yannis Gianniotis (Toronto) is a first-team all-star for the second time in his career, while teammate Dylan Bams (Fanny Bay, B.C.), who scored two goals for the Blues this season, receives his first OUA all-star nod.
Joining Braletic on the first-team is teammate Markus Molder (Toronto). Molder, a second-year defender for the Rams, netted one goal this season.
Rounding out the first-team all-star list is Queen's Gaels defender Andrew Nador (Kingston, Ont.), Carleton Ravens midfielder Peter Manginas (Belleville, Ont.) and Trent Excalibur striker Thaddeus Bolton (Bowmanville, Ont.), who was third in OUA scoring with seven goals.
The second-team all-stars are led by Varsity Blues goalkeeper John Smits (Mississauga, Ont.), who has recorded 11shutouts in 2009. Midfielder Mario Nallira (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Nordo Gooden (Kingston, Jamaica) also represent Toronto on the list. Nallira, a three-time all-star, tallied three goals this season, while Gooden, a fourth-year striker, is in a two-way tie for top spot in OUA scoring, with eight goals in 14 games.
Three Nipissing Lakers are second-team all-stars, including defenders Sean Raposo (Brampton, Ont.), Andrew Clarke (Newmarket, Ont.) and midfielder Mohammed Nyangado (Latir Kunda, KMC).
Queen's has three offensive players receiving all-stars nods, including midfielders Dan McBride (Kingston, Ont.) and Mike Arnold (London, Ont.) and striker Jordan Brooks (Angus, Ont.). Brooks and Arnold each scored six goals in their third year with the Gaels.
In addition to receiving the rookie of the year honour, Jan also earns second-team all-star status. Laurentian's fourth-year defender David Hysen (Sudbury, Ont.) rounds out the Second Team.
West men's soccer major award winners and all-stars will be announced on Thursday.
2009 OUA EAST MEN'S SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
Most Valuable Player - Alex Braletic (Ryerson)
Rookie of the Year - Michael Jan (Ryerson)
Community Service - Anthony Volpe (Ryerson)
Coach of the Year - Carlo Castrechino (Laurentian)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Scott Cliff (Hanmer, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Yannis Gianniotis (Toronto) - Toronto
Defender - Dan Mazzuca (Hamilton, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Markus Molder (Toronto) - Ryerson
Defender - Andrew Nador (Kingston, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Dylan Bams (Fanny Bay, B.C.) - Toronto
Midfielder - Alex Braletic (Thornhill, Ont.) - Ryerson
Midfielder - Daniel Keir (Hamilton, Ont.) - Laurentian
Midfielder - Peter Manginas (Bellville, Ont.) - Carleton
Striker - Thaddeus Bolton (Bowmanville, Ont.) - Trent
Striker - Alex Raphael (East York, Ont.) - Toronto
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Jon Smits (Mississauga, Ont.) - Toronto
Defender - Andrew Clarke (Newmarket, Ont.) - Nipissing
Defender - David Hysen (Sudbury, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Michael Jan (Toronto) - Ryerson
Defender - Sean Raposo (Brampton, Ont.) - Nipissing
Midfielder - Mike Arnold (London, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Dan McBride (Kingston, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Mario Nallira (Etobicoke, Ont.) - Toronto
Midfielder - Mohammed Nyangado (Latir Kunda, KMC) - Nipissing
Striker - Jordan Brooks (Angus, Ont.) - Queen's
Striker - Nordo Gooden (Kingston, Jamaica) - Toronto
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Ryerson garners the three major player awards, including most valuable player, which is awarded to Alex Braletic (Thornhill, Ont.), a second-year midfielder. Braletic, who is also a first-team all-star for the first time, had a team-high three goals this season, helping the team to a 5-4-5 record, their best finish in several years.
Ryerson's Michael Jan (Toronto) is the recipient of the T. Litzen Sports East rookie of the year award. The first-year defender played in 13 games this season and scored two goals
The community service award, which is given to the player exemplifying the most commitment to his community through volunteering and involvement, goes to Ryerson's Anthony Volpe (Brampton, Ont.). The fourth-year goalkeeper has been a great asset to his team, challenging his teammates to play their best and helping the rookies keep up with the fast-paced life as student-athlete. Volpe has organized study sessions for the players and is there to assist when the team is on the road. He also keeps his teammates on schedule, making sure they attend classes and driving them to practices if classes run late. He is a leader, and well deserving of his captaincy.
Laurentian Voyageurs head coach Carlo Castrechino is the East coach of the year. Castrechino led the Voyageurs to a 6-6-2 record in regular season play, with the team ranked in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Top 10 for the first time in over a decade, reaching No. 7 in mid-September.
Laurentian also has strong presence on the first-team all-star list, as three players receive recognition. Fifth-year goalkeeper and 2008 East most valuable player Scott Cliff (Hanmer, Ont.) is the East first-team's all-star netminder for the second straight season. Cliff played in 14 games this season, recording five shutouts.
Laurentian defender Dan Mazzuca (Hamilton, Ont.) and midfielder Daniel Keir (Hamilton, Ont.) are also first-team all-stars. Keir cracked the Top 10 in OUA scoring with six goals this season. Mazzuca and Keir are both in their fifth year as Voyageurs.
Toronto also has three players on the first-team list this year, including striker Alex Raphael (East York, Ont.), who was fifth in OUA scoring this season with seven goals. Raphael, who makes his first appearance as an all-star, was second in scoring for the Varsity Blues.
Blues defender Yannis Gianniotis (Toronto) is a first-team all-star for the second time in his career, while teammate Dylan Bams (Fanny Bay, B.C.), who scored two goals for the Blues this season, receives his first OUA all-star nod.
Joining Braletic on the first-team is teammate Markus Molder (Toronto). Molder, a second-year defender for the Rams, netted one goal this season.
Rounding out the first-team all-star list is Queen's Gaels defender Andrew Nador (Kingston, Ont.), Carleton Ravens midfielder Peter Manginas (Belleville, Ont.) and Trent Excalibur striker Thaddeus Bolton (Bowmanville, Ont.), who was third in OUA scoring with seven goals.
The second-team all-stars are led by Varsity Blues goalkeeper John Smits (Mississauga, Ont.), who has recorded 11shutouts in 2009. Midfielder Mario Nallira (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Nordo Gooden (Kingston, Jamaica) also represent Toronto on the list. Nallira, a three-time all-star, tallied three goals this season, while Gooden, a fourth-year striker, is in a two-way tie for top spot in OUA scoring, with eight goals in 14 games.
Three Nipissing Lakers are second-team all-stars, including defenders Sean Raposo (Brampton, Ont.), Andrew Clarke (Newmarket, Ont.) and midfielder Mohammed Nyangado (Latir Kunda, KMC).
Queen's has three offensive players receiving all-stars nods, including midfielders Dan McBride (Kingston, Ont.) and Mike Arnold (London, Ont.) and striker Jordan Brooks (Angus, Ont.). Brooks and Arnold each scored six goals in their third year with the Gaels.
In addition to receiving the rookie of the year honour, Jan also earns second-team all-star status. Laurentian's fourth-year defender David Hysen (Sudbury, Ont.) rounds out the Second Team.
West men's soccer major award winners and all-stars will be announced on Thursday.
2009 OUA EAST MEN'S SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
Most Valuable Player - Alex Braletic (Ryerson)
Rookie of the Year - Michael Jan (Ryerson)
Community Service - Anthony Volpe (Ryerson)
Coach of the Year - Carlo Castrechino (Laurentian)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Scott Cliff (Hanmer, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Yannis Gianniotis (Toronto) - Toronto
Defender - Dan Mazzuca (Hamilton, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Markus Molder (Toronto) - Ryerson
Defender - Andrew Nador (Kingston, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Dylan Bams (Fanny Bay, B.C.) - Toronto
Midfielder - Alex Braletic (Thornhill, Ont.) - Ryerson
Midfielder - Daniel Keir (Hamilton, Ont.) - Laurentian
Midfielder - Peter Manginas (Bellville, Ont.) - Carleton
Striker - Thaddeus Bolton (Bowmanville, Ont.) - Trent
Striker - Alex Raphael (East York, Ont.) - Toronto
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Jon Smits (Mississauga, Ont.) - Toronto
Defender - Andrew Clarke (Newmarket, Ont.) - Nipissing
Defender - David Hysen (Sudbury, Ont.) - Laurentian
Defender - Michael Jan (Toronto) - Ryerson
Defender - Sean Raposo (Brampton, Ont.) - Nipissing
Midfielder - Mike Arnold (London, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Dan McBride (Kingston, Ont.) - Queen's
Midfielder - Mario Nallira (Etobicoke, Ont.) - Toronto
Midfielder - Mohammed Nyangado (Latir Kunda, KMC) - Nipissing
Striker - Jordan Brooks (Angus, Ont.) - Queen's
Striker - Nordo Gooden (Kingston, Jamaica) - Toronto
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
