BURLINGTON, ON - On Wednesday, November 2, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced the list of major award winners and All-Stars for the 2016-17 men's soccer season. Following one of the most successful regular seasons in school history, a total of four Gryphons were selected as OUA West Division All-Stars.
Fifth year team captain
Justin Springer has put together quite the career in his time at the University of Guelph. This marks the fifth straight year that Springer has been named an OUA West Division First Team All-Star. The Burlington native anchors a Gryphon defence that ranked among the best in the conference, allowing just 12 goals against in 16 regular season games played.
Fifth year midfielder
Ethan Danielli was named an OUA West Division Second Team All-Star for a second consecutive season after once again providing the Gryphons with consistent production in the midfield. Joining Danielli as OUA West Division Second Team All-Stars are forwards
Tomasz Skublak and
Jace Kotsopoulos. Skublak and Kotsopoulos, both second year players, formed one of the most potent forward pairings in the entire country this season, combining for 27 goals. Nowhere else in the country did two players combine to score that many goals.
Kotsopoulos accounted for 17 of those goals, making him the second-leading scorer in the country next only to the University of Alberta's Ajeej Sarkaria who had 19. Skublak, who set up several of the goals for Kotsopoulos, finished with 10 himself in what was his first full year playing centre forward.
The Gryphons are now preparing to face Ryerson on Saturday in an OUA Semifinal matchup that will see the No. 4-ranked Gryphons face the No. 3-ranked Rams. The Gryphons currently sit two wins away from their first OUA title since 1990 and have already automatically qualified for the national championships which they will host at Alumni Stadium November 10-13.
For more information on teh rest of the OUA men's soccer awards, visit www.oua.ca
WEST DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS
Most Valuable Player – Jonathan Lao – York Lions
Rookie of the Year – Cristian Cavallini – York Lions
Coach of the Year – Carmine Isacco – York Lions
Community Service Award – Krisian Ferreira – McMaster Marauders
WEST DIVISION FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
Kyle Vizirakis – Windsor Lancers – Goalkeeper
Justin Springer – Guelph Gryphons – Defender
Tahrik Rodriques – Laurier Golden Hawks – Defender
Daniel Gogarty – York Lions – Defender
Chuka Ononye – Western Mustangs – Defender
Jonathan Lao – York Lions – Midfielder
Dena Iezady – York Lions – Midfielder
Yunus Mollayev – McMaster Marauders – Midfielder
Parker Seymour – Western Mustangs – Midfielder
Niklas Bauer – Laurier Golden Hawks – Forward
Cristian Cavallini – York Lions – Forward
WEST DIVISION SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
Andrew Johnstone – Algoma Thunderbirds – Goalkeeper
Aaron Schneebeli – Western Mustangs – Defender
Matt Arnone – York Lions – Defender
Marco Bernabo– Windsor Lancers – Defender
Aleksandar Vincic – McMaster Marauders – Defender
Marco Gennaccaro – McMaster Marauders – Midfielder
Ryan Telfer – York Lions – Midfielder
Ethan Danielli – Guelph Gryphons – Midfielder
Jeremy Arnold – Western Mustangs – Midfielder
Tomasz Skublak – Guelph Gryphons – Forward
Jace Kotsopoulos – Guelph Gryphons – Forward
EAST DIVISION MAJOR AWARDS
Most Valuable Player – Raheem Rose – Ryerson Rams
Rookie of the Year – Robert Boskovic – Ryerson Rams
Coach of the Year – Filip Prostran – Ryerson Rams
Community Service Award – Mike Bowerman – UOIT Ridgebacks
EAST DIVISION FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS
Praveen Ahilan – Ryerson Rams – Goalkeeper
Robert Boskovic – Ryerson Rams – Defender
Julian Piccioli – Carleton Ravens – Defender
Devon Bowyer – Toronto Varsity Blues – Defender
Nikola Stakic – Toronto Varsity Blues – Defender
Raheem Rose – Ryerson Rams – Midfielder
Lukas MacNaughton – Toronto Varsity Blues – Midfielder
Nikolay Saveliev – Toronto Varsity Blues – Midfielder
Luka Lee – Ryerson Rams – Midfielder
Jamie Baker – Ryerson Rams – Forward
Fabio Campoli – UOIT Ridgebacks – Forward
EAST DIVISION SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS
Mark Rogal – Toronto Varsity Blues – Goalkeeper
Kyle Stewart – Ryerson Rams – Defender
Weber Bourjolly – Carleton Ravens – Defender
Carl De Abreu – Trent Excalibur – Defender
Alexander Zero – Nipissing Lakers – Defender
Daud Dahir – Carleton Ravens – Midfielder
Harry Michelis – Toronto Varsity Blues – Midfielder
Erik Petrovic – UOIT Ridgebacks – Midfielder
Aaron Chia – Trent Excalibur – Midfielder
Mekonen Lovemore – Carleton Ravens – Forward
Matthew Wilkes – Laurentian Voyageurs – Forward