Five From Men's Soccer Earn All-NEC Recognition
CCSU finished the 2017 season with a 5-8-4 record overall.
The Central Connecticut men's soccer team had five earn All-Northeast Conference honors it was announced Thursday night at the postseason banquet on the eve of the league's championship tournament. Sophomore Andres Muriel Albino earned First Team honors, while senior Ryan Taylor and junior Louis Beddouri were named to the Second Team. Freshmen Sean Gannon and Filippo Pirola were both named to the All-Rookie Team.
Albino led the Blue Devils' attack with 16 points on six goals and four assists in 17 games played. He was named the NEC Player of the Week on Oct. 9 after notching a five-point game in CCSU's 5-3 win over Saint Francis U. He had two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist against the Red Flash. Albino also notched the game-winner in Central's 1-0 win at Sacred Heart on Oct. 15. In conference play, Albino tied for the league lead with two game-winning goals and was second with 28 shots.
Taylor played all 17 games and capped his career with three goals and a team-high six assists for 12 points. He tied for third in the NEC with six assists and was tied for 10th in points. Taylor scored the game-winner over Howard on Sept. 13. He capped his career with 13 career goals and 11 assists for 37 career points. His goal total included five game-winning tallies. Taylor was also an All-NEC Second Team selection in 2015.
Beddouri started all 17 games and finished with two goals and five assists. He scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win over Florida Gulf Coast and had CCSU's lone goal in a loss to UMass Lowell. Three of Beddouri's assists came in conference play, which was tied for second in the league. Beddouri also earned All-NEC Second Team honors as a freshman.
Gannon and Pirola both made immediate impressions with the Blue Devils as they each started all 17 games. Gannon tallied a pair of goals on the campaign, notching scores in 1-1 ties at Saint Joseph's and Fairleigh Dickinson. He finished the year with two goals and an assist. Pirola played an integral role in the center of CCSU's backline, while also scoring a pair of goals. He scored in a 3-1 win at Howard and also had a score in a setback to LIU Brooklyn. He earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors on Sept. 5 after helping CCSU win the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic with two victories.
The five all-conference selections are the most for Central since having six honorees following the 2013 season.
The Blue Devils finished the season with a 5-8-4 record overall and went 2-3-2 in Northeast Conference play.
