Men's Soccer | 12/3/2019 8:33:10 AM
Empire 8 Champion Nazareth College had four student-athletes named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Division III All-East Region teams on Monday, December 2. Junior midfielder Jake Adams was named to the second team, while sophomore forward Sam Smyth, junior defender Connor Mann and senior goalkeeper Brian Wilkin were named to the third team. All four players earned All-Empire 8 first team honors last month.
All four student-athletes are eligible for All-America honors, which will be announced on Thursday, December 5.
Adams, a native of Holley, N.Y., was named the 2019 Empire 8 Player of the Year after leading the Golden Flyers in scoring with 25 points on 11 goals and three assists. Five of his goals proved to be game-winners and three came on penalty kicks.
Smyth was second to Adams in scoring on Nazareth during 2019 with 19 points on six goals and seven assists. A native of Pittsford, N.Y., Smyth scored a key goal in a 2-0 win over Elmira in the Empire 8 Conference semifinals.
Mann, of Nunda, N.Y., started all 20 games as a defender for the Golden Flyers and contributed one goal. He also played on a defensive group that produced a 0.73 goals-against average with nine shutouts. His season also was highlighted by a huge defensive save he made in the first half of the E8 semifinal win over Elmira.
Wilkin, of Rochester, N.Y., was a four-year standout in goal for the Golden Flyers and a three-time All-Empire 8 first-team selection. His career stats include 38 victories, 23 shutouts, 267 saves and a 0.86 goals-against average.
Nazareth finished 14-3-3 overall in 2019 and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006 after winning the Empire 8 Conference title.