Four Camels earn Atlantic Sun Conference men's soccer honors

Mitchell Cardenas was named to the all-conference first team, while Ben Iiames and Khalil Johnson gained second-team all-league honors. Justin Franz was selected for the A-Sun all-freshman team.

"We are extremely proud of the recognition that Mitchell, Ben, Khalil and Justin have received from the conference and its coaches," said first-year head coach Steve Armas. "These players have been instrumental in the success of the team this year. I feel that recognition like this is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of the entire group. My hope is that the team as a whole will respond positively with this added confidence going into our first round A-Sun post-season game."

A sophomore midfielder from Mexico City, Mexico, Cardenas gained all-league honors for the second-straight year. He was a second-team selection and all-freshman team choice in 2009 and was also named to the 2010 pre-season all-conference squad.

The 2009 graduate of College Park High School in Spring, Texas played in 17 games with 17 starts during the regular season and led team with 14 points (3 goals, 8 assists). He enters the A-Sun tourney ranked second among A-Sun assists leaders (1st in league games with 5) and 10th in points (8th in conference matches with 9).

A former Texas Rush AHFC AS Monaco club standout, Cardenas had career-high 3 assists vs. Belmont on Oct. 28 and scored twice and assisted on another CU goal in 4-3 loss at Jacksonville on Oct. 21. He set up game-winning goals vs. Appalachian State, USC Upstate and Belmont. In his two-year career, Cardenas already has eight goals and 14 assists for 30 points in 36 matches played (34 starts).

Iiames, a former Broughton High School standout in Raleigh, N.C., played all but 13 minutes in the central defense, logging 1687 of a possible 1700 minutes during the regular season. The sophomore was also presented the team's Glen Brewster Memorial Award for leadership and courage.

The former '90 CASL Elite club standout has started 30-consecutive matches for CU, playing all but 13 minutes during that span (2783 of 2800), and has played in 34 games with 32 starts in his career. Iiames has played a key role in the Camel back line that has helped post six shutouts this season.

Johnson earned second-team all-league recognition for the second-straight year. The senior forward from Kingston, Jamaica has totaled 42 points on 19 goals and 4 assists during his career that includes 78 games with 38 starts.

The co-captain scored two-goal outings this year in wins over Charlotte and Belmont and was named A-Sun player of the week after his double vs. the 49ers.

A midfielder from Cedar Park, Texas, Franz has played in all 18 matches with 12 starts. He was presented Campbell's Jim McVeigh Award as its most promising freshman after ranking fourth on team in scoring with 8 points on 3 goals and 2 assists.

Franz collected his first career goal and assist in a 3-2 win over Mercer. He also scored at Jacksonville and at 10th-ranked Virginia, while producing an assist vs. Belmont.

Regular season champion Florida Gulf Coast had four players named to the A-Sun first-team after posting a 13-3-2 overall record, 9-0-0 in the league, and moving up to a number-19 ranking in this week's Soccer America poll. The Eagles, however, are not eligible for the A-Sun tournament or NCAA College Cup while completing their transition from NCAA Division II to the Division I ranks this year.

A-Sun top seed and tournament host East Tennessee State (13-5-0, 7-2-0) produced the A-Sun freshman of the year, Itode Fubara, and coach of the year, Scott Calabrese.

Stetson midfielder Fredrik Brustad was named player of the year, while FGCU goalkeeper Adam Glick claimed defensive player of the year honors.

Campbell (6-8-4, 4-5-0 A-Sun) carries the fifth seed into Saturday's 1:00 p.m. (CDT) A-Sun first-round match at fourth-seeded Lipscomb (9-8-0, 5-4-0). The winner of Saturday's match will meet top-seeded and host East Tennessee State on Thurs., Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday's other first-round match pits third-seeded Mercer at home (7:00 p.m.) against sixth-seeded Jacksonville. Second-seeded Stetson will take on the winner of that contest at Johnson City, Tenn., on Nov. 11 at 4:00 p.m. The final is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m.

Lipscomb and Campbell square off for the second time in a week after the Bisons claimed a 2-1 win against the Fighting Camels last Saturday at Buies Creek. Nick Bibb put Lipscomb in front in the 28th minute and Garrett Pettis' strike just 61 seconds into the second half provided the eventual winning margin.

Keegan Terry cut the margin in half in the 80th minute, but LU keeper Brent McGee dove to his left to save Khalil Johnson's low, left-footed effort for a corner kick in the 84th. The evenly played match saw both teams manage just 11 total shots with three on frame.

Atlantic Sun Conference

2010 Men's Soccer Honors

Player of the Year
Fredrik Brustad (Stetson)

Defensive Player of the Year
Adam Glick (Florida Gulf Coast)

Coach of the Year
Scott Calabrese (East Tennessee State)

Freshman of the Year
Itode Fubara (East Tennessee State)

First Team
Adam Glick, FGCU - GK
Guilherme Reis, ETSU - D
Deion Jones, FGCU - D
Matthew O'Shaughnessy, FGCU - D
Ryan Corning, Stetson - D
Fredrik Brustad, Stetson, Stetson - MF
Jonathan Mendoza, Stetson - MF
Josey Portillo, FGCU - MF
Itode Fubara, ETSU - MF
Mitchell Cardenas, Campbell - MF
Aaron Schoenfeld, ETSU - F
Nedim Hrustic, Jacksonville - F
Garrett Pettis, Lipscomb - F
Due to a tie in voting 13 players appear on the all-conference first team

Second Team
Brett Petricek, Mercer - GK
Tobias Hottner, Jacksonville - D
Ben Iiames, Campbell - D
Josh Shutter, Mercer - D
Gonzalo de Mujica, Stetson - MF
Ian Cameron, Mercer - MF
Cristian Raudales, FGCU - MF
Khalil Johnson, Campbell - F
Brandon Tarr, Belmont - F
Miguel DaSilva, Lipscomb - F
Richie Edmondson, Mercer - F

All-Freshman Team
*Nico Olsak, Belmont
*Itode Fubara, ETSU
*Ryan Price, FGCU
* Andreas Schnabl, Stetson
David Geno, ETSU
Donovan Henry, FGCU
Martin Resch, Jacksonville
Kevin Barbar, Lipscomb
Ryan King, Mercer
Taylor Krek, Mercer
Justin Franz, Campbell
Blake Woodruff, ETSU
* unanimous selection