ECAC Release

DANBURY, Conn. - The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has announced its 2018 Division I Men's Soccer All-ECAC Team, and four members of the LIU Brooklyn men's soccer team were recognized for their play this season. It was the most ECAC honors for the team in the last decade.

Freshman goalie Sam Ilin was voted the ECAC Rookie of the Year, while Fredrik Mathisen was named to the All-ECAC team as a midfielder, and Marius Koss and Filip Nordström were named All-ECAC defenders.

Martieon Watson of Stony Brook University was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Josh Bauer of University of New Hampshire claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Paul Zazenski of James Madison University was named Coach of the Year.

Ilin, who was the Northeast Conference's Rookie of the year, had a terrific first year for the Blackbirds as he compiled a 10-3 record with over 1,200 minutes in net. The rookie allowed just 12 goals on 155 shots faced for a save percentage of .829. He allowed a goals against average of just 0.86 with 58 total saves on the year. He posted six shutouts as well for the squad. His shutouts, goals against average and save percentage all led the Northeast Conference.

Mathisen, a two-time NEC Player of the Week, finished the pre-NCAA tournament season as the team's leader in goals (5) and points (15).
 

Nordstrom provided an offensive punch from the back line with nine assists in the pre-NCAA season, which led the NEC and ranked in the top-20 nationally.
 
And Koss finished the year with four goals and two assists, including three game-winning goals for the Blackbirds.
 
The four join teammate Rasmus Hansen, who earned ECAC honors in his freshman and junior season.

ECAC Division I Men's Soccer Awards and All-ECAC Team

Offensive Player of the Year
Martieon Watson - Stony Brook University, Sr., M

Defensive Player of the Year
Josh Bauer - University of New Hampshire, So., D

Rookie of the Year
Sam Ilin - LIU Brooklyn, Fr., GK

Coach of the Year
Paul Zazenski - James Madison University

All-ECAC Team
Leon Maric - Saint Joseph's University, Jr., F
Nico Solabarrieta - University at Albany, Sr., F
Tajon Buchanan - Syracuse University, So., F
Fredrik Mathisen - LIU Brooklyn, So., M
Martieon Watson - Stony Brook University, Sr., M
Jordan Jowers - Saint Peter's University, So., M
Marius Koss - LIU Brooklyn, Jr., D
Filip Nordström - LIU Brooklyn, Sr., D
Josh Bauer - New Hampshire University, So., D
Sam Nealis - Hofstra University, Sr., D
Blake Willis - Colombia University, So., D
Adrien Awana - Manhattan College, Jr., D
TJ Bush - James Madison University, R-So., GK



ABOUT THE ECAC
Established in 1938, the ECAC is the nation's largest Conference, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. The ECAC hosts numerous championships in men's and women's sports across Divisions I, II and III, offering opportunities for thousands of student-athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.