CCU

Four Chanticleers Earn All-Big South Men's Soccer Honors

       

Four Chanticleers Earn All-Big South Men's Soccer Honors

CONWAY, S.C.- The Coastal Carolina University men’s soccer team had four players earn All-Big South first and second team honors and the All-Freshman Team, as it was announced today, Nov. 12 at the Big South Tournament banquet in Conway, S.C.

Senior captain Kyle Russell (S. Elgin, Ill./St. Charles North) picked up his second career first team nod, after starting 18 games this season. Russell acted as a key cog in a back line that has allowed only 11 goals in Big South contests this year.

Junior Robert Hunter (Pawleys Island, S.C./Waccamaw (Furman)) also got the first team nod in a highly competitive race at forward. Hunter as three game-winning goals, the first coming against nationally ranked Charlotte on Sept. 12.  Additional game-winners have come in 1-0 defeats of High Point (Oct. 16) and UNC Asheville on Oct. 22. The forward has at least a point in 11 of the Chants 16 contests, while the  Chants are 7-3-1 in games where Hunter has at least a point, and are 1-4 when he doesn’t have a point. His high water mark of the season game against Presbyterian, where he had season-high in points with five against Presbyterian, scoring a pair of goals and dishing out an assist in the 4-2 victory. 

Both were named to the UNCW/Courtyard by Marriott All-Tournament as voted on by tournament officials. Russell was a key part in allowing only one goal against the high-powered St. Francis offense, while Hunter scored the Chants lone goal of the tournament on on Sept. 7 against Oakland.

Sophomore Ross Kelly (Sugar Land, Texas/Clements) earned second team honors as a midfielder, although he has split time at both center midfield and striker on the season.

Kelly’s breakout game came in Sept. 28’s contest against VMI, as Kelly’s two goals marked the first multiple-goal effort this season for Coastal Carolina on the season in the 3-2 win over VMI. Kelly is one of three Chants to play and start in every contest this season, and ranks ninth in the Big South in points with 11Since being moved to striker at the start of conference play, the Chants are 5-1-1 in Big South play and 6-1-1 overall.

Freshman Carlos Recinos (Houston, Texas/Cypress Ridge) was named to the All-Freshman team, as he has played in all 18 games this season, starting seven… Has two game-winning goals on the year, with the first coming against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 29 and the second on Sept. 28 against VMI.

Winthrop’s Daniel Revivo earned Big South Player of the year, and the Eagles Head Coach Rick Posipanko took home Coach of the Year honors.

The Chants are set to host the 2008 Big South men's soccer championship Nov. 13-16 at Coastal Carolina University Soccer Field. The first game of the tournament will be Thu., Nov. 13 at noon, with No. 4 High Point facing off against No. 5 Liberty. The Chanticleers will host Radford in the night contest at 7:30 p.m.