OUA Announces 2014 Men's Soccer Major Awards and All-Stars

(Photo: Lawrence Ho / Martin Bazyl)

HAMILTON, Ont. – It takes a lot of talented players to lead a team to an undefeated season, no.1 CIS ranking, and an appearance in the OUA Final Four. So it's no surprise the defending champion York Lions have six players named West Division All-Stars

Defender Casey D'Mello (Mississauga, Ont.) was a first-team all-star in 2013 and he receives the honour again, joined by teammate Daniel Fabrizi (Brampton, Ont.). Last season's West Division MVP and Rookie of the Year Jonathan Lao (Unionville, Ont.) finds himself once again named a first-team all-star. The midfielder scored five goals this season and is joined on the first-team roster with teammate Joey Cicchillo (North York, Ont.). Matt Stinson (Toronto, Ont.) was named to the second-team as a midfielder.  Though Lao did not repeat as MVP, the award does stay with the Lions. Striker Jarek Whiteman (Brampton, Ont.) led the Lions with 13 goals – ranking second in OUA – and won the division's Most Valuable Player Award to go along with being named a first-team all-star. Tyrone Downes (Markham, Ont.) won the division's Community Service Award for his efforts off the pitch. Downes has been heavily involved in "Athletes in Action" and has toured Canada, as well as going on on a mission to Brazil this summer to spread the word of Athletes in Action which uses Sport to talk about religion. Lions head coach Carmine Isacco won Coach of the Year.

The McMaster Marauders are chasing their third OUA title in four seasons and head into the final weekend with five players named first or second-team West Division All-Stars. Goalkeeper Angelo Cavalluzzo (Hamilton, Ont.) posted a 0.29 goals against average and a .914 save percentage that earned him first-team all-star honours. In front of him, defender Nicholas Vecchi (Niagara Falls, Ont.) also made the first-team for the second year in a row. Aleksander Vincic (Stoney Creek, Ont.) made the second-team as a defender. Ryan Garnett (Kitchener, Ont.) was the only Marauder's midfielder to be named an all-star, making the first-team roster. Striker Mark Reilly (Hamilton, Ont.) tied for the team lead with eight goals and was rewarded with second-team honours.

The third-place Western Mustangs sent six players to the West all-star team this season. Midfielder Parker Seymour (Toronto, Ont.) was the only Mustang named to the first-team, scoring five goals and providing excellent two-way play for Western. Goalkeeper Ben Cowman (Oshawa, Ont.), defenders Andrew Walton (Toronto, Ont.), Aaron Schneebeli (Kitchener, Ont.), midfielder Connor McFall (Cambridge, Ont.), and striker Christian Douglas (Oakville, Ont.) were all named second-team all-stars.

Three Guelph Gryphons landed on the West all-star roster this season, including two first-teamers from last season. Defender Justin Springer (Burlington, Ont.) once again made the first-team while his teammate Tim Flynn (Scarborough, Ont.) – a first-team all-star in 2013 – made the second-team this season. OUA's leading goal scorer Jared Agyemang (Brampton, Ont.) was named to the first-team as a striker; he scored 16 goals this season. The 2014 West Division Rookie of the Year also hails from the Gryphons. Ryan Vyrostko (Waterloo, Ont.) put together a solid rookie campaign in the Guelph's midfield. Despite not recording a goal, Vyrostko's strong defensive play was tremendously valuable for the Gryphons.

Eric Bradey (Guelph, Ont.) is the sole Brock Badger named to the West all-stars. Bradley was named to the second-team after scoring two goals and putting together a fine defensive season in 2014.

The Windsor Lancers lone all-star was midfielder Jack Sargent (Liverpool, England). Named to the second-team, Sargent scored two goals while appearing in 15 games this season.

The Ryerson Rams finished atop the OUA East Division standings in 2014, and also led the division with six players named to the East Division all-star team.

Goalkeeper Christian Maraldo (Mississauga, Ont.) made the first-team for a second year in a row after posting a 1.11 goals against average to go along with six shutouts. Rams defenders Josh Kohn (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Kyle Stewart (Kingston, Jamaica) both made the second-team. Up front, midfielders Martin Dabrowski (Barrie, Ont.) and Marko Miketic (Thornhill, Ont.), along with striker Viktor Anastasov (Toronto, Ont.) were named first-team all-stars. Anastasov led the team with seven goals in the regular season. Midfielder Raheem Rose (Etobicoke, Ont.) scored four goals and appeared in 14 games, resulting in a Rookie of the Year Award for the first-year Ram.

The Toronto Varsity Blues are also headed to the Final Four this Saturday and have a roster that boasts five all-stars and two major award winners. Defenders Devon Bowyer (Toronto, Ont.) and Lukas MacNaughton (Brussels, Belgium) both made the first-team and are joined there by midfielder Ezequiel Lubocki (Winnipeg, Man.). Making the second-team is midfielder Mario Kovacevic (Woodbridge, Ont.) and striker Kilian Elkinson (Toronto, Ont.). Elkinson also takes home the East Division Most Valuable Player Award after a breakout season in which he scored a team-leading 11 goals, ranking fourth in the conference. Putting up an eight-goal season in 2014, Kovacevic was just as valuable off the field and as a result receives the East Division Community Service Award. Kovacevic has been actively involved as a student-leader in the greater University community.  He serves as the Co-Chair of the Varsity Board, works closely with the Council of Athletics and Recreation on campus and has spearheaded major events including Toronto's annual high school tournament and the National Soccer Coaching Conference that is now in its fourth year of operation. 

Julian Piccioli (Ottawa, Ont.), the Carleton Ravens defender, is once again a first-team all-star after receiving the honour in 2013. Piccioli scored two goals while starting in all 16 games for the Ravens this season. Joining him on the first all-star team is striker Daud Dahir (Ottawa, Ont.), the team's second leading scorer with six goals. Defender Michael Calof (Ottawa, Ont.) rounds out Carleton's all-star selections; he was named a second-team all-star. Ravens coach Sandy Mackie takes home the East Division Coach of the Year Award after leading Carleton to a 9-4-3 record.

The Laurentian Voyageurs are represented on the first-team roster by midfielder Omar Allison (Kipling, Ont.). Allison tied for the team lead with three goals and appeared in 14 games. Defender Cameron Brooks (Whitby, Ont.) was a first-team all-star last season and receives second-team honours for his play in 2014.

The Nipissing Lakers are represented with one all-star. Midfielder Jean-Michel Paulin (North Bay, Ont.) started in 15 games for the Lakers and finished third on the team with three goals. He also added one assist and 17 shots on goal.

East Division First-Team All-Stars

Christian Maraldo – Goalkeeper – Ryerson

Devon Bowyer  – Defender –Toronto

Kristian Zanette – Defender – Queen's

Julian Piccioli – Defender – Carleton

Lukas MacNaughton – Defender – Toronto  

Martin Dabrowski – Midfielder – Ryerson

Marko Miketic – Midfielder – Ryerson

Ezequiel Lubocki – Midfielder – Toronto

Omar Allison – Midfielder – Laurentian         

Daud Dahir – Forward – Carleton

Viktor Anastasov – Forward – Ryerson

East Division Second-Team All-Stars

Josh Kohn – Defender – Ryerson

Kyle Stewart – Defender – Ryerson

Cameron Brooks – Defender – Laurentian

Michael Calof – Defender – Carleton

Mario Kovacevic – Midfielder – Toronto

Chris Michael – Midfielder – Queen's

Henry Bloemen – Midfielder – Queen's

John Michel Paulin – Midfielder – Nipissing

Kilian Elkinson – Forward – Toronto

Jacob Schroeter – Forward – Queen's

Kilian Elkinson – Forward – Toronto

East Division Rookie of the Year

Raheem Rose – Midfielder – Ryerson

Sandy Mackie – Carleton

Mario Kovacevic – Forward – Toronto

West Division First-Team All-Stars

Casey D'Mello – Defender – York

Daniel Fabrizi – Defender – York

Justin Springer – Defender – Guelph

Nicholas Vecchi – Defender – McMaster     

Jonathan Lao – Midfielder – York

Joey Cicchillo – Midfielder – York

Ryan Garnett – Midfielder – McMaster

Parker Seymour – Midfielder – Western       

Jarek Whiteman – Forward – York

Jared Agyemang – Forward – Guelph

Ben Cowman – Goalkeeper – Western

Andrew Walton – Defender – Western

Aaron Schneebeli – Defender – Western

Eric Bradey – Defender – Brock

Aleksander Vincic – Defender – McMaster

Matt Stinson – Midfielder – York

Tim Flynn – Midfielder – Guelph

Jack Sargent – Midfielder – Windsor

Connor McFall – Midfielder – Western

Mark Reilly – Forward – McMaster

Christian Douglas – Forward – Western

Jarek Whiteman – Forward – York

West Division Rookie of the Year

Ryan Vyrostko – Midfielder – Guelph

Carmine Isacco – York

West Division Community Service Award

Tyrone Downes – Midfielder – York