Five Billikens Named NSCAA All-Region
Dec. 13, 2007
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis had an unprecedented five men's soccer players earn National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) first-team All-Mid Atlantic Region honors today. Juniors Calum Angus, Dado Hamzagic, Kyle Patterson and Eric Sweetin, as well as sophomore Tim Ream, comprise the largest collection of All-Region first-teamers from one team in the country. "Having underclassmen recognized is always good to see because it tells me that the future remains bright for Saint Louis University men's soccer," Billiken head coach Dan Donigan said. "I'm happy for all of them. Not to take any recognition away from these five players, because they are extremely deserving of the accolade, but there are many other players within our program that contributed to our team's success this past season, and I am very appreciate and aware of the efforts and hard work of all my players." Angus, who earlier today was named a third-team All-American by College Soccer News, earned Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors after anchoring the Billikens' top-rated defense. In addition to playing tough defense, he joined the attack on occasion and tallied a pair of goals this year, including the game winner against Central Florida. Hamzagic also earned first-team All-Conference honors after finishing third on the team in scoring with 14 points (5G, 4A). He assisted on the game-winning goal against then-No. 2 Indiana, then buried the game-winning strike following game against Bradley. In the final regular-season match of the season against Charlotte, he scored twice in a 5-1 victory that wrapped up the league's regular-season title for the Billikens.
Patterson was named A-10 Offensive Player of the Year after leading the team and finishing second in the conference with 24 points (10G, 4A). He notched big goals in crucial non-conference matches against North Carolina State and Indiana before exploding for two goals and an assist against Buffalo. He was equally impressive in league play, scoring 14 points (6G, 2A) including a natural hat trick against Saint Joseph's. Sweetin, the lone player to repeat as first-team All-Region out of the five, battled an ankle injury in the middle of the season but still was a stablizing force in the middle for the Billikens. Named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List at the beginning of the season, he also earned first-team All-Conference accolades. Ream emerged as one of the top left backs in the country this season. He was the lone member of the Billikens' stauch back line who started every game. In addition to contributing the league's top-rated defense, Ream consistently served crisp passes out of the left flank that led to scoring chances on the offensive end. He earned four assists on the year, including a career-high two in an important 3-1 victory at George Washington. The Billikens finished 2007 with a 12-2-5 record and were ranked in the top-25 by the NSCAA all season, drawing a ranking of No. 12 in the final NSCAA coaches' poll. |
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