Men's Soccer | 12/11/2014 11:32:00 AM |
Bono, Ekblom Lead Orange All-Region Honorees
'Cuse's five selections were the most of any school in the South Region
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Five members of the Syracuse men's soccer team were named to the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region Team on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Goalie
Alex Bono and forward
Emil Ekblom headlined the Orange's selections by earning first-team honors. Defenders
Skylar Thomas,
Jordan Murrell and midfielder
Nick Perea made the second team.
The Orange's five selections were the most of any team in the region and Syracuse was one of five schools, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Wofford and Coastal Carolina, with two players on the first team.
The 2014 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and a Hermann Trophy semifinalist as national player of the year, Bono set the Syracuse single-season records for goals-against average (0.55), shutouts (12) and minutes played (1,949) in 2014. He ranks seventh nationally in both goals-against average and save percentage (.848).
Ekblom was Syracuse's leading scorer and he is tied for third in the ACC in goals (8) and tied for fifth in points (19). Six of his eight goals were game-winners, tied for the third-most in the country. Ekblom registered a season-high three points (1 goal, 1 assist) in wins against Cornell and Bucknell, respectively.
Thomas started 19 games at center back and helped key a Syracuse defense that is tied for fifth in the NCAA for the fewest goals allowed (12). Thomas was a force in the offensive third as well. He tallied a personal-best three goals, including the match-winners in regular-season victories against Virginia and Boston College.
Murrell started every game for the Orange along the backline and led the team in assists for the third year in a row. He passed out seven helpers to go along with two goals in 2014. Murrell finished his career with 20 assists, the most ever for a Syracuse defender.
Perea started all 21 matches and led all Syracuse field players in minutes (1,938). He contributed five goals from his central midfield position and was perfect 3-for-3 on penalty kicks.
Syracuse closed the 2014 season with a 16-4-1 record and advanced to the NCAA's Round of 16 for the second time in three years. The team's 16 victories were one shy of the school single-season record.
