NESCAC Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams Announced

Bolton of Williams Earns Player of the Year Honors for Second-Straight Season

HADLEY, Mass. - Williams senior midfielder Josh Bolton (Penfield, N.Y.) has been named the 2005 NESCAC Player of the Year for the second-straight season. Bolton continues a long line of Player of the Year winners from Williams, as the Ephs have had a player win the award each of the last six seasons.

Bolton, who also earned a spot on the 2005 NESCAC All-Conference First Team for the second-straight year, was just one piece in Williams solid season. While the senior middie didn’t put up flashy statistical numbers - he has scored two goals, both in NESCAC action, and four assists so far this season - Bolton did provide solid two-way support, playing in all 15 games this season for 13-2-0 Williams. Along with Bolton, junior defenseman Dana Leary (Washington, D.C.) earned All-Conference First Team honors for the second consecutive year. Junior midfielder Patrick Huffer (Boulder, Colo.) rounds out the Ephs on the First Team, as he leads his team with nine goals and 21 points.

Middlebury was the only other NESCAC squad to have three players represented on the 11-man All-Conference First Team. Senior defender Derek Cece (Williamstown, Mass.) earned recognition as a First Team member for the second season in a row, scoring five goals in 2005 from the back, two of which were game-winners. Juniors John Sales (Downingtown, Pa.) and Zack Toth (Carlisle, Mass.) also represented the Panthers on the First Team. The midfielder Sales was a Second Team member a year prior, while goalkeeper Toth provided the backbone of the Middlebury defense, posting eight shutouts, a save percentage of .866 and a goals against of 0.61, tops among his peers.

Terence O’Connell (Greenwich, Conn.) of Bates placed on the All-Conference First Team for the second year in a row. The senior forward accumulated 10 goals during the 2005 campaign, finishing only behind his teammate in that category in the NESCAC, sophomore Brent Morin (Hanover, N.H., 11). The Bobcats also saw senior midfielder David Shear (Concord, Mass.) earn First Team recognition. Bowdoin senior defender Mike Crowley (Wellesley, Mass.) and sophomore forward Nick Figueiredo (Wilmington, Mass.) represented the Polar Bears on the First Team. Amherst junior forward Michael Wohl (Northampton, Mass.) was the remaining holdover from last season’s First Team. Wohl led his Jeff teammates in goals this season with seven, all of which came in NESCAC action.

Wesleyan freshman forward Matt Nevin (Montclair, N.J.) is having an impressive first-year of play in the NESCAC, and for his performance has been awarded Rookie of the Year. Nevin continues to pile up the points in the latter half of the season, as he has four goals and an assist in his last two games. Last night in NCAA competition Nevin added in two goals - including the game-winner in overtime - along with an assist for a 3-2 win over Muhlenberg in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Nevin leads all rookies this season in scoring with eight goals and five assists.

Wesleyan head coach Geoff Wheeler was the choice among the coaches, earning NESCAC Coach of the Year. In his seventh season with the Cardinals, Wheeler has guided his 2005 squad to a 10-5-3 record and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory Wednesday night.