BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After leading the nation in assists, Mitchell of Cardenas of Campbell University was one of 33 student-athletes named to the All-South Atlantic Region team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
A first-team all-region choice, Cardenas led all NCAA Division I players in assists (14) and assists per game (0.74) for Campbell, which finished the season with a 12-5-2 overall record and ranked ninth in the final South Atlantic Region poll.
Cardenas, who was named third-team all-region as a junior, played every minute (1750) for the Camels, who finished 7-3 overall in the Big South Conference standings. He ranked 22nd in the nation (third in the Big South) with 30 points on 8 goals and 14 assists.
"I am thrilled and honored that Mitchell has been recognized by the NSCAA on the All-South-Atlantic Region first team," said head coach Steve Armas. "This recognition is not only a reflection of his stellar performance this season, but also of the support of his teammates. I am proud of Mitchell's accomplishments over the years and he has been an integral part of our successes at Campbell. It has been a privilege to coach a player with Mitchell's abilities, and it has been an even been more rewarding to watch him grow and mature into the player he has become."
He set up the game-tying goal in a season-opening 1-1 draw at 16th-ranked SMU (Aug. 24) and assisted on both strikes in a 2-0 victory at No.-17 NC State (Sept. 18). Cardenas scored once and had two assists in Campbell's 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech.
On the year, Cardenas finished with four game-winning goals. Four of his assists set up game-winning or game-tying strikes for the Camels, who finished 2-1-0 against Atlantic Coast Conference members and were 2-2-1 vs. nationally-ranked teams.
Cardenas ended his career as the 15th-leading scorer in the 50-season history of Campbell men's soccer. The native of Mexico City, who prepped at College Park (Texas) High School finished with 78 points on 22 goals and 34 assists in 76 matches (75 starts).
The 4-time all-conference performer (including three, first-team honors) ranks seventh on Campbell's all-time assists charts, fifth in starts and ninth in appearances. He is the second Campbell player to lead the country in assists since the program joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1977. Pat Gross set an NCAA record with 23 assists in 1993.
Cardenas was one of 12 players from Big South Conference schools to earn all-region notice in 2012. He set up two goals in a 4-4 draw with High Point in the Big South quarterfinals and was named to the conference all-tournament team for the second-straight year.
2012 NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region
First Team
GK / Oliver Blum / Sr., / Northeastern / North Yarmouth, Maine
D / Shaun Foster / Sr. / Hofstra / Liverpool, England
D / Fejiro Okiomah / Sr. / High Point / Pfugerville, Texas
D / London Woodberry / Sr. / Maryland / McKinney, Texas
M / Kyle Bekker / Sr. / Boston College / Oakville, Ontario
M / Chris Harmon / Sr. / Old Dominion / Downingtown, Pa.
M / Mitchell Cardenas / Sr. / Campbell / Mexico City, Mexico
M / John Stertzer / Sr. / Maryland / Oakton, Va.
F / Don Anding / Sr. / Northeastern / Amity Harbor, N.Y.
F / Ashton Bennett / Sr. / Coastal Carolina / Clarendon, Jamaica
F / Patrick Mullins / Jr. / Maryland / New Orleans, La.
Second Team
K / Ryan Taylor / Sr. / Radford / Midlothian, Va.
D / Simon Cox / So. / Northeastern / London, England
D / Kjartan Sigurdsson / So. / Coastal Carolina / Fludir, Iceland
D / Uchenna Uzo / So. / Coastal Carolina / Lagos, Nigeria
M / Nathan Page / Jr. / Drexel / Norwich, England
M / Justin Portillo / Jr. / Coastal Carolina / New Orleans, La.
M / Pedro Ribeiro / Jr. / Coastal Carolina / Belo Horizonte, Brazil
M / Paul Wyatt / Sr. / James Madison / Modbury, England
F / Will Bates / Sr. / Virginia / Chester, Va.
F / Tim Hopkinson / Jr. / Old Dominion / Nottingham, England
F / Taylor Morgan / Sr. / George Mason / Southampton, England
Third Team
K / Victor Francoz / Sr. / Old Dominion / Fleurieu Sur Saone, France
D / Bjarki Aalsteinsson / Fr. / James Madison / Kopavogur, Iceland
D / Uriah Bentick / Sr. / Liberty / Port of Spain, Trinidad
D / Ambry Moss / So. / Northeastern / Nassau, Bahamas
M / Jordan LeBlanc / Sr. / Old Dominion / Haverford, Pa.
M / Shawn Sloan / Sr. / High Point / Oakland, Mich.
M / Ken Tribbett / Jr. / Drexel / Centennial, Colo.
M / Bernardo Ulmo / Jr. / Radford / Sao Paulo, Brazil
F / Maid Memic / So. / Hofstra / Kozarac, Bosnia
F / Timi Mulgrew / So. / George Mason / Sterling, Va.
F / Mamadee Nyepon / So. / High Point / Greensboro, N.C.
South Atlantic Region Final Rankings (Nov. 13, 2012)
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Coastal Carolina
- Old Dominion
- Northeastern
- Drexel
- Boston College
- Hofstra
- Campbell
- James Madison
ARV: George Mason
