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2009 OUA men's soccer awards and all-stars announced
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
– OUA –
