November 5, 2009
BRUNO REMAINS CLASS OF OUA WEST MEN'S SOCCER
HAMILTON, Ont. - The York Lions may be out of the championship race, but they're definitely still a powerhouse as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announces the 2009 men's soccer West major award winners and all-stars.
York's fourth-year midfielder Francesco Bruno (Toronto) receives most valuable player honours for the second-straight year. The three-time all-star tallied eight goals this season, tying him for first in OUA scoring.
The T. Litzen Sports West rookie of the year is Robbie Murphy (Ottawa) of the Guelph Gryphons. The first-year striker led the Gryphons in scoring with five goals in 12 games, making him one of the highest-scoring rookies of the 2009-10 season.
Murphy's teammate Frankie Luzi (Guelph, Ont.) receives the community service award in recognition of his involvement within the school and his community. Luzi has been extremely involved with schools in the Guelph, Ont. area, speaking to classes about balancing academics and extracurricular activities. During the season, he volunteers every day at Mary Phelan School. He works with the students in the gym during their physical education period and he also helps in the classroom. Luzi also volunteers as a lector at his church every Sunday morning, and is the assistant coach for the under 10 girls rep team.
Despite a disappointing overtime loss in the quarterfinals this past weekend, Windsor Lancers head coach Steve Hart is recognized as the West coach of the year. In his fourth year as head coach, Hart led the team to their best finish since 1993 with an 8-1-5 record this season. The Lancers were also ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation.
The 2009 West first-team all-stars are loaded with Lions, as York racked up four all-star nods. Joining Bruno on the list are goalkeeper Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ont.), defender Franco Ruscetta (Woodbridge, Ont.) and midfielder Phil Rivers (Woodbridge, Ont.).
Guelph manages to slide two Gryphons in among the Lions' den, as Murphy is named a first-team all-star for the first time. Fourth-year defender Ben Ragan (Rockwood, Ont.) is a three-time all-star, but makes his debut with the first-team.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks midfielder Alex Doma (Burlington, Ont.), who scored a team-leading three goals in 13 games, is an all-star for the third time, while teammate Chris Walker (Mississauga, Ont.) is recognized for the first time.
Rounding out the list is Western Mustangs defender Mark Bennett (Brantford, Ont.), Waterloo Warriors midfielder Chris Lam (Guelph, Ont.) and Windsor striker Michael Watson (Belle River, Ont.). Lam played in all 14 games this season and led the Warriors in scoring with five goals, while Watson netted a team-high six goals in 13 games.
The McMaster Marauders have a pair of second-team all-stars, as second-year defender Garret McConville (Ottawa) and fourth-year midfielder Kyle Grootenboer (Brantford, Ont.) both make their first all-star appearance.
The second-team striker positions are monopolized by Western this year, as fourth-year forward Marc Pocrnic (London, Ont.) and midfielder Eric Amato (Toronto) earn their first all-star nods. Pocrnic tallied a team-high four goals in the regular season, while Amato netted two. Rookie midfielder Camilo Gonzalez is also a West second-team all-star.
Waterloo has second-team all-star representation from fourth-year fullback Raphael Goldemann (Waterloo, Ont.) and second-year midfielder Mohamad Aborig (Tripoli, Libya), who scored three goals in 10 games. Both players are making their second appearance on the second team.
The Guelph Gryphons offence and defence gets some recognition on the second-team, as defender Ignacio Lagos (Windsor, Ont.) and midfielder Stephen Johnstone (Ottawa) are honoured. Johnstone is appearing as an all-star for the second time, while Lagos is on the list for the first time in his three-year OUA career.
Rounding out the second-team are Windsor first-year defender Arlo Hemkes (Arnhem, Netherlands) and Laurier goalkeeper Jarrett Humphreys (Waterloo, Ont.).
2009 OUA WEST MEN'S SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
Most Valuable Player - Francesco Bruno (York)
Rookie of the Year - Robbie Murphy (Guelph)
Community Service - Frankie Luzi (Guelph)
Coach of the Year - Steve Hart (Windsor)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ont.) - York
Defender - Mark Bennett (Brantford, Ont.) - Western
Defender - Ben Ragan (Rockwood, Ont.) - Guelph
Defender - Franco Ruscetta (Woodbridge, Ont.) - York
Defender - Chris Walker (Mississauga, Ont.) - Laurier
Midfielder - Francesco Bruno (Toronto) - York
Midfielder - Alex Doma (Burlington, Ont.) - Laurier
Midfielder - Chris Lam (Guelph, Ont.) - Waterloo
Midfielder - Phil Rivers (Woodbridge, Ont.) - York
Striker - Robbie Murphy (Ottawa) - Guelph
Striker - Michael Watson (Belle River, Ont.) - Windsor
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Jarrett Humphreys (Waterloo, Ont.) - Laurier
Defender - Raphael Goldemann (Waterloo, Ont.) - Waterloo
Defender - Arlo Hemkes (Arnhem, Netherlands) - Windsor
Defender - Ignacio Lagos (Windsor, Ont.) - Guelph
Defender - Garret McConville (Ottawa) - McMaster
Midfielder - Mohammad Aborig (Tripoli, Libya) - Waterloo
Midfielder - Camilo Gonzalez (London, Ont.) - Western
Midfielder - Kyle Grootenboer (Brantford, Ont.) - McMaster
Midfielder - Steve Johnstone (Ottawa) - Guelph
Striker - Eric Amato (Toronto) - Western
Striker - Marc Pocrnic (London, Ont.) - Western
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.
York's fourth-year midfielder Francesco Bruno (Toronto) receives most valuable player honours for the second-straight year. The three-time all-star tallied eight goals this season, tying him for first in OUA scoring.
The T. Litzen Sports West rookie of the year is Robbie Murphy (Ottawa) of the Guelph Gryphons. The first-year striker led the Gryphons in scoring with five goals in 12 games, making him one of the highest-scoring rookies of the 2009-10 season.
Murphy's teammate Frankie Luzi (Guelph, Ont.) receives the community service award in recognition of his involvement within the school and his community. Luzi has been extremely involved with schools in the Guelph, Ont. area, speaking to classes about balancing academics and extracurricular activities. During the season, he volunteers every day at Mary Phelan School. He works with the students in the gym during their physical education period and he also helps in the classroom. Luzi also volunteers as a lector at his church every Sunday morning, and is the assistant coach for the under 10 girls rep team.
Despite a disappointing overtime loss in the quarterfinals this past weekend, Windsor Lancers head coach Steve Hart is recognized as the West coach of the year. In his fourth year as head coach, Hart led the team to their best finish since 1993 with an 8-1-5 record this season. The Lancers were also ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation.
The 2009 West first-team all-stars are loaded with Lions, as York racked up four all-star nods. Joining Bruno on the list are goalkeeper Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ont.), defender Franco Ruscetta (Woodbridge, Ont.) and midfielder Phil Rivers (Woodbridge, Ont.).
Guelph manages to slide two Gryphons in among the Lions' den, as Murphy is named a first-team all-star for the first time. Fourth-year defender Ben Ragan (Rockwood, Ont.) is a three-time all-star, but makes his debut with the first-team.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks midfielder Alex Doma (Burlington, Ont.), who scored a team-leading three goals in 13 games, is an all-star for the third time, while teammate Chris Walker (Mississauga, Ont.) is recognized for the first time.
Rounding out the list is Western Mustangs defender Mark Bennett (Brantford, Ont.), Waterloo Warriors midfielder Chris Lam (Guelph, Ont.) and Windsor striker Michael Watson (Belle River, Ont.). Lam played in all 14 games this season and led the Warriors in scoring with five goals, while Watson netted a team-high six goals in 13 games.
The McMaster Marauders have a pair of second-team all-stars, as second-year defender Garret McConville (Ottawa) and fourth-year midfielder Kyle Grootenboer (Brantford, Ont.) both make their first all-star appearance.
The second-team striker positions are monopolized by Western this year, as fourth-year forward Marc Pocrnic (London, Ont.) and midfielder Eric Amato (Toronto) earn their first all-star nods. Pocrnic tallied a team-high four goals in the regular season, while Amato netted two. Rookie midfielder Camilo Gonzalez is also a West second-team all-star.
Waterloo has second-team all-star representation from fourth-year fullback Raphael Goldemann (Waterloo, Ont.) and second-year midfielder Mohamad Aborig (Tripoli, Libya), who scored three goals in 10 games. Both players are making their second appearance on the second team.
The Guelph Gryphons offence and defence gets some recognition on the second-team, as defender Ignacio Lagos (Windsor, Ont.) and midfielder Stephen Johnstone (Ottawa) are honoured. Johnstone is appearing as an all-star for the second time, while Lagos is on the list for the first time in his three-year OUA career.
Rounding out the second-team are Windsor first-year defender Arlo Hemkes (Arnhem, Netherlands) and Laurier goalkeeper Jarrett Humphreys (Waterloo, Ont.).
2009 OUA WEST MEN'S SOCCER MAJOR AWARD WINNERS AND ALL-STARS
Most Valuable Player - Francesco Bruno (York)
Rookie of the Year - Robbie Murphy (Guelph)
Community Service - Frankie Luzi (Guelph)
Coach of the Year - Steve Hart (Windsor)
FIRST TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Alim Karim (Scarborough, Ont.) - York
Defender - Mark Bennett (Brantford, Ont.) - Western
Defender - Ben Ragan (Rockwood, Ont.) - Guelph
Defender - Franco Ruscetta (Woodbridge, Ont.) - York
Defender - Chris Walker (Mississauga, Ont.) - Laurier
Midfielder - Francesco Bruno (Toronto) - York
Midfielder - Alex Doma (Burlington, Ont.) - Laurier
Midfielder - Chris Lam (Guelph, Ont.) - Waterloo
Midfielder - Phil Rivers (Woodbridge, Ont.) - York
Striker - Robbie Murphy (Ottawa) - Guelph
Striker - Michael Watson (Belle River, Ont.) - Windsor
SECOND TEAM ALL-STARS
Goalkeeper - Jarrett Humphreys (Waterloo, Ont.) - Laurier
Defender - Raphael Goldemann (Waterloo, Ont.) - Waterloo
Defender - Arlo Hemkes (Arnhem, Netherlands) - Windsor
Defender - Ignacio Lagos (Windsor, Ont.) - Guelph
Defender - Garret McConville (Ottawa) - McMaster
Midfielder - Mohammad Aborig (Tripoli, Libya) - Waterloo
Midfielder - Camilo Gonzalez (London, Ont.) - Western
Midfielder - Kyle Grootenboer (Brantford, Ont.) - McMaster
Midfielder - Steve Johnstone (Ottawa) - Guelph
Striker - Eric Amato (Toronto) - Western
Striker - Marc Pocrnic (London, Ont.) - Western
– 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.
