Nov. 6, 2012
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Four members of the UCF men's soccer team earned All-Conference USA honors Tuesday, including senior defender Andrew Quintana and junior forward Deshorn Brown, who were selected to the all-league first team. Senior defender Ben Hunt was named to the All-C-USA Second Team and junior forward Omar Vallejo was selected to the third team.
The group helped the Knights to an impressive third-place regular-season finish in the conference standings. UCF went 5-3 in league play and closed the regular season with impressive road victories at Kentucky and Marshall. The Knights will open the C-USA Championship Wednesday against No. 6 seed and tournament host UAB in Hoover, Ala.
The All-C-USA First Team honor is the second in a row for Quintana. The center back has helped UCF record six shutouts this year, including four in C-USA matches. He ranks second on the team in minutes with 1,581 and also scored his first career goal this year at South Carolina.
Brown, who is in his first year in Orlando after transferring from the University of Mobile, leads C-USA in points with 29 and goals with 13. He ranks sixth nationally in both points per game (1.93) and goals per game (0.87). A native of Jamaica, he played in six C-USA matches in 2012 and scored six goals against league foes.
Hunt leads UCF with 1,595 minutes. The center back was selected as the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 15 after helping the Knights post two shutouts against No. 17 SMU and Stetson. He also has an assist on the year. The All-C-USA honor is the first for the New Zealand native.
Vallejo, who is in his first year at UCF after transferring from Ohio State, leads C-USA and ranks 20th nationally with eight assists. He also has three goals this season, with all three coming in league play. Last week, Vallejo scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory at Kentucky and then assisted on Eduardo Jimenez' game-winning score in the 1-0 triumph at Marshall.
Conference USA Honors
Coach of the Year: Tim McClements, SMU
Players of the Year: Jaime Ibarra, SMU/Daniel Withrow, Marshall
Offensive Player of the Year: Mark Sherrod, Memphis
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaime Ibarra, SMU
Freshman of the Year: Cristian Mata, Tulsa
First Team
GK Daniel Withrow, Marshall
GK Jaime Ibarra, SMU
F Mark Sherrod, Memphis
F Cristian Mata, Tulsa
F Deshorn Brown, UCF
M Matt Lodge, Kentucky
M Liam Collins, Memphis
M Omar Mata, Tulsa
D Steven Perinovic, Kentucky
D Mladen Lemez, UAB
D Andrew Quintana, UCF
Second Team
GK Jack Van Arsdale, Kentucky
F Quentin Albrecht, FIU
F Tom Jackson, Marshall
F Tyler Engel, SMU
F Bradlee Baladez, South Carolina
F Kofi Gyawu, UAB
M Cameron Wilder, Kentucky
M T.J. Nelson, SMU
M Braeden Troyer, South Carolina
D Damien Rosales, SMU
D Aaron Simmons, SMU
D Darion Copeland, UAB
D Reed Matte, UAB
D Ben Hunt, UCF
Third Team
GK Mark Pais, Tulsa
F Tyler Riggs, Kentucky
M Daniel Gonzalez, FIU
M Devin Perkins, Marshall
M Andrew Morales, SMU
M Chase Wickham, UAB
M Fatai Alabi, UAB
M Omar Vallejo, UCF
D Joseph Dawkins, FIU
D Anthony Hobbs, FIU
D Dylan Asher, Kentucky
D Jordan Johnson, Memphis
D Mike Mangotic, South Carolina
D Tony Rocha, Tulsa
All-Freshman
GK Robin Spiegel, FIU
F Cristian Mata, Tulsa
F Bryce Follensbee, Tulsa
F Karl Chester, UAB
F Ian Svantesson, UAB
M Daniel Gonzalez, FIU
M Quincy Thomas, Memphis
M John Lujano, SMU
D Jacob Speed, Kentucky
D Jack Hopkins, Marshall
D Michael King, SMU
D Bradley Bourgeois, Tulsa