DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2015 Division II Men’s Soccer All-Star Team on, as voted on by representatives from the Division’s member institutions.
Per Forgaard from LIU Post received the award for Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Jesper Malmstrom was named the DII Defensive Player of the Year. Adelphi University’s James Thristino garnered Rookie of the Year accolades, with Andrews Lindberg from LIU Post captured Coach of the Year honors.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Per Forgaard – LIU Post, Sr., Midfielder
The East Coast Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Forgaard enjoyed a spectacular senior campaign, posting 31 points on 10 goals and 11 assists in regular-season play. An All-ECAC First Team selection in 2014, Forgaard capped off his career with a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America selection, marking the second year in a row he has received such a nod from the NSCAA.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jesper Malmstrom – LIU Post, Jr., Goalkeeper
Malmstrom was the backbone of a staunch Pioneers defense in 2015. The goalkeeper compiled a 10-2-2 mark in 14 games, and finished second in the East Coast Conference with three clean-sheets. The junior closed the regular season ranked among the top five for goalkeeping statistics among ECC foes, with a goals against average of 1.19 and a .761 save percentage.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
James Thristino – Adelphi University, Fr., Midfielder
Thristino was a key cog of a successful Panthers squad that reached the Northeast-10 championship game in 2015. The NE-10 Rookie of the Year finished the regular season as the squad’s second-leading scorer with six goals, 13 points and two game-winning tallies.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Andreas Lindberg – LIU Post
Lindberg claims Coach of the Year honors after leading the Pioneers to a 12-2-2 mark in regular-season competition. The Pioneers claimed the ECC championship and captured an NCAA Tournament berth in his seventh year in charge of the program. In addition to being named ECAC DII Coach of the Year, Lindberg also earned ECC Coach of the Year and NSCAA East Region Coach of the Year honors.
ALL-ECAC FIRST TEAM
FORWARD:
Anthony Asante – Post University
Caelan Hueber – Adelphi University
MIDFIELD:
Cal Filtch – Le Moyne College
Aitor de Heredia – Wheeling Jesuit University
Per Forgaard – LIU Post
Matias Ruiz – LIU Post
DEFENSE:
Lukas Nordin – Dominican College
Jacob Butler-Bowdon – Post University
Alejandro Penzini – Adelphi University
Alec Andall – Alderson Broaddus University
GOALKEEPER:
Jon Hanlon – Post University
ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM
FORWARD:
Tiago Martins – Post University
Jason Lampkin – LIU Post
MIDFIELD:
James Thristino – Adelphi University
Federico De Oliveira – Adelphi University
Joe Smith – Seton Hill University
Christian Galindo – Ohio Valley University
DEFENSE:
JJ Hawkshaw – Wheeling Jesuit University
David Arvidsson – LIU Post
Seb Baxter – LIU Post
Diego Thielen – Ohio Valley University
GOALKEEPER:
Jesper Malmstrom – LIU Post
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men’s and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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