STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's soccer postseason awards have been released and 10 members of the Saint Joseph's College program have received honors.
The Monks feature eight individuals on the First Team (out of 11 total) and nearly swept the annual awards, as Head Coach Adrian Dubois was selected as the GNAC Coach of the Year, senior Brett Mattos (Mahopac, N.Y.) has earned GNAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, senior Dalton Gaumer (Corona, Calif.) is the 2018 GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, and senior Blake Mullen (Manchester, Conn.) has been tabbed as the Goalkeeper of the Year.
Mattos, Gaumer and Mullen are joined on the First Team by seniors Rory Twomey (South Windsor, Conn.) and Jesse Ramirez (Dumont, N.J.) and juniors Mitchell Duncan (Sanford, Maine), Cody Elliott (Gorham, Maine), and Jackson Taylor (Gorham, Maine).
Junior Noah Robinson (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) rounds out the group of 10 honorees with a Second Team All-Conference nod.
Saint Joseph's, ranked fifth and eighth nationally in this week's D3soccer.com and United Soccer Coaches polls, respectively, will face Middlebury College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at Hitchcock Field on the campus of Amherst College this Saturday. Kick-off is slated for 1:30 PM.
Dubois, now in his fifth year as the Monks' sideline general, has been chosen – by vote of his GNAC coaching peers – as the Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season after leading Saint Joseph's to a 20-0-0 record, including an 11-0 mark in conference play, and the team's third straight GNAC Championship.
The Monks head into the NCAA Tournament riding a 41-game undefeated streak – the sixth-longest string in NCAA DIII Men's Soccer history – and have outscored opponents by a collective 77-1 margin this fall. Saint Joseph's is the only men's soccer team in the nation – NCAA DI, DII, or DIII (828 programs in total) – without a loss or a tie.
In five seasons at the helm, Coach Dubois has posted a 70-24-9 (.680) overall record with a 37-9-2 (.771) mark versus GNAC opponents. With a 1-0 victory over Bowdoin College on September 9th, Dubois became the program's all-time wins leader, surpassing former Head Coach Steve Babineau (54-40-6).
Mattos earns GNAC Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second-consecutive season after tying for the conference lead in goals (11), points (26), and game-winning goals (4) during his senior season. The three-time First Team All-Conference honoree is the Monks' all-time leader in goals (50), points (122) and game-winning goals.
Gaumer, a two-time All-America honoree, claims his second GNAC Defensive Player of the Year honor in as many seasons after quarterbacking an SJC backline that posted the lowest goals-against average (0.048) in all of NCAA Men's Soccer this fall. The Monks allowed just 4.2 shots per game – 1.7 shots on goal per contest – and have given up just one goal all season.
Gaumer's defensive group has not allowed an opponent to score since the 12th minute of a 3-1 win over Johnson & Wales on September 15th and have held foes off the board for 1,248 minutes and 40 seconds since. Over the last three seasons, the Monks have posted a collective 0.19 goals-against average with 12 goals allowed in 64 games.
Mullen claims First Team All-GNAC and Goalkeeper of the Year honors for the third-consecutive season after nearly duplicating his junior season after which he garnered All-America acclaim. In 18 starts and 1,449 minutes, the senior keeper has allowed just one goal with 24 saves and leads the country in goals-against average (0.06) and save percentage (.960). He is the NCAA Men's Soccer (all-levels) active leader in career save percentage (.906) and goals-against average (0.244) and ranks second among active goalies in solo shutouts (36).
Twomey, a two-time Second Team All-GNAC honoree, claims First Team mention for the first time after scoring four goals (all game-winners) with an assist for nine total points during his senior season. A four-year starter as the Monks' central midfielder, Twomey is a workhorse who rarely leaves the field and is one of the major reasons for the team's success.
Ramirez earns All-Conference honors for the first time after scoring eight goals with two assists for 18 total points this fall. Although he has started four games this season, Ramirez has emerged as a weapon off the bench with a penchant for scoring important goals. The four-year contributor has quietly put together a strong collegiate career, with 20 goals and 13 assists for 53 total points in 79 contests.
Duncan, a Third Team All-GNAC honoree last year, takes First Team honors after scoring six goals with three assists for 15 total points in 18 games during his junior season. His straight-line speed and ball skills are among the elite in the conference and his numbers would be even more impressive had he not suffered from an injury early in the season.
Elliott collects First Team All-Conference honors after scoring six goals with 14 assists and 26 total points during his junior season. The first-time All-GNAC recipient is ranked fifth in NCAA DIII in assists and is currently tied for the conference lead in points. The 2018 GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player scored a pair of game-winning goals in the conference tourney with the Monks' only strikes in 1-0 quarterfinal and championship victories. A skilled player with a high soccer IQ, Elliott takes the majority of the team's corner kicks and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.
Taylor, a Second Team All-Conference honoree last season, earns First Team acclaim after scoring two goals with eight assists for 12 total points while starting all 20 games for the Monks this fall. A lockdown defender who can also play up on counterattacks, Taylor is an important player in the team's offensive and defensive schemes and takes the majority of the Monks' throw-ins.
Robinson garners Second Team All-GNAC honors for the second-consecutive season after establishing career-highs in goals (8), assists (5), points (21), and game-winning goals (4) this fall. The third-year starter is a bit of a Swiss Army knife for the Monks, as he has played multiple positions this year and is one of the most athletically gifted players in the conference.
GNAC RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monks' Mattos, Gaumer, Mullen, Dubois all receive major awards
WINTHROP, Mass. – Nationally-ranked Saint Joseph's College of Maine, the three-time defending Great Northeast Athletic Conference champions after its latest GNAC title on Sunday afternoon, sports eight of the 11 student-athlete selections on the 2018 All-GNAC Men's Soccer First Team, as announced by the GNAC office on Monday.
The Monks also nearly swept this fall's major awards, as senior Brett Mattos was voted the 2018 GNAC Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, senior Dalton Gaumer was named the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior goalkeeper Blake Mullen was named the GNAC Goalkeeper of the Year, and head coach Adrian Dubois was named the GNAC Coach of the Year.
Norwich University freshman forward Bienfait Badibanga was voted the GNAC Rookie of the Year by the league's head coaches. The first-year from Burlington, Vt. was third in the GNAC with 25 points on 11 goals and three assists.
Also from SJC on the First Team were junior forward Mitchell Duncan, junior midfielder Cody Elliott, senior midfielders Jesse Ramirez and Rory Twomey, and junior back Jackson Taylor.
Mattos and Elliott tied for the GNAC lead with 26 points each, as Mattos' 11 goals tied with Badibanga for the conference-lead and Elliott's 14 assists was the league-high.
Gaumer anchored a backline that allowed just one goal all season long in front of Mullen, who led GNAC keepers in save percentage (.960) and goals-against average (0.06).
Johnson & Wales University (RI) senior midfielder Teagan Drake and Norwich senior defender Matt Mazzola rounded out this year's First Team selections.
Saint Joe's led the way with nine total selections, while Norwich had seven. For the complete All-Conference and All-Sportsmanship selections, please see below.
First Team
F – Bienfait Badibanga, Norwich (Fr., Burlington, Vt.)
F – Mitchell Duncan, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Sanford, Maine)
F – Brett Mattos, Saint Joseph's (Me.) (Sr., Mahopac, N.Y.)
M – Teagan Drake, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., Waterbury, Vt.)
M – Cody Elliott, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Gorham, Maine)
M – Jesse Ramirez, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., Dumont, N.J.)
M – Rory Twomey, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., South Windsor, Conn.)
B – Matt Mazzola, Norwich (Sr., Ridgefield, Conn.)
B – Dalton Gaumer, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., Corona, Calif.)
B – Jackson Taylor, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Gorham, Maine)
GK – Blake Mullen, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Sr., Manchester, Conn.)
Second Team
F – Amerle Nemeye, Norwich (Fr., Burlington, Vt. )
F – Derek Triana, Regis (Mass.) (Sr., Port St. Lucie, Fla.)
F – Noah Robinson, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Wappingers Falls, N.Y.)
M – Nick Gutekunst, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Fr., East Northport, N.Y.)
M – Matt Hilton, Norwich (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.)
M – Dashiell Vermilya, Norwich (Jr., Montpelier, Vt.)
M – Jared Barroso, Regis (Mass.) (Jr., Central Falls, R.I.)
B – Braeden Krakosky, Johnson & Wales (RI) (So., Sachse, Texas)
B – Riley McNicholas, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., Hopkinton, N.H.)
B – Chris Clain, Norwich (Sr., Proctor, Vt.)
GK – Brendan Germano, Norwich (Sr., Monroe Township, N.J. )
Third Team
F – Abdoul Aremu, Albertus Magnus (So., West Haven, Conn.)
F – Ken Niyonzima, Regis (Mass.) (Jr., Dracut, Mass.)
F – Daniel Castro, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Fr., Willimantic, Conn.)
M – Yannick Gonsalves, Colby-Sawyer (Sr., Oak Bluffs, Mass.)
M – Robert Danielian, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Fr., Watertown, Mass.)
M – Hayden Burbank, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Fr., Southington, Conn.)
M – Jordan Casey, Suffolk (Sr., East Hampton, Conn.)
B – Noah Camelo, Colby-Sawyer (Sr., Marblehead, Mass.)
B – Travis Cole, Emmanuel (Mass.) (Sr., Beckley, W. Va.)
B – Domeniko Skrelja, St. Joseph (Conn.) (Fr., Waterton, Conn.)
GK – Joe Russo, Albertus Magnus (Sr., North Haven, Conn.)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Brett Mattos, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Dalton Gaumer, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR – Blake Mullen, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Bienfait Badibanga, Norwich
COACH OF THE YEAR – Adrian Dubois, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Emmanuel (Mass.)
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
Kaj Djonne, Albertus Magnus (Sr., Sandy Hook, Conn.)
Connor Francis, Anna Maria (So., Colchester, Conn.)
Alexi Taliadouros, Colby-Sawyer (Sr., Winchester, Mass.)
Morgan Mercier, Emmanuel (Mass.) (So., Lincolnville, Maine)
Robert Hayman, Johnson & Wales (RI) (Sr., Tomkins Cove, N.Y.)
Connor Wall, Lasell (Sr., East Hampton, Conn.)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Norwich (Sr., Millbury, Mass.)
Scott Holcomb, Regis (Mass.) (Jr., Natick, Mass.)
Collin Deyarmin, Rivier (Jr., Raymond, N.H.)
Gaetano LaBella, Saint Joseph (Conn.) (So., Wethersfield, Conn.)
Ryan Buonaiuto, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (Jr., Scituate, R.I.)
Simon Velez Angel, Suffolk (Jr., Weston, Fla.)
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
