Salve Regina men’s soccer led the entire New England region with a record five (5) selections - both Donald Igo and Matthew O’Donnell were selected to the First Team. Evan MacDonald was selected to the Second Team, while both Jordan Elster and Michael Payan were selected to the Third Team.
Salve Regina men’s soccer led the entire New England region with a record five (5) selections - both Donald Igo and Matthew O’Donnell were selected to the First Team. Evan MacDonald was selected to the Second Team, while both Jordan Elster and Michael Payan were selected to the Third Team.
Posted: Nov 27, 2018

Salve Regina men’s soccer leads the region with a record five (5) selections

NEWPORT, R.I. - The United Soccer Coaches organization (formerly known as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America – NSCAA) announced the 2018 All-Region Teams for the New England region: http://bit.ly/2QlQhX2 and Salve Regina University men's soccer led the entire New England region with a record five (5) selections. Both Donald Igo (Needham, Mass.) and Matthew O'Donnell (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were selected to the First Team. Evan MacDonald (Candia, N.H.) was selected to the Second Team, while both Jordan Elster (Sutton, Mass.) and Michael Payan (Fort Lee, N.J.) were selected to the Third Team.

Endicott and Gordon each earned two selections giving the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) a total of nine (9) All-Region honors. The NESCAC led all conferences with 14 total selections. Final Four competitor Tufts had three (3), Connecticut College and Bowdoin also had three (3) each, while Amherst had two (2). The NEWMAC had ten (10), the GNAC had five (5), the MASCAC had three (3), Little East with two (2), and finally the UAA (Brandeis) had one (1). The NAC and NECC had no selections.

St. Joseph's College of Maine and Springfield College were tied for the second most selections in the region behind the Seahawks with four (4) each.

For Elster, it's his second straight All-Region award. For the other guys, Igo led the conference in points, Payan led the league in shutouts, MacDonald leads the nation in assists, and O'Donnell could contend in tackles won or passes completed or quite possibly both.

Previously, the most ever selections for Salve Regina in any season had been two, which was accomplished twice – in 2011 and in 2012.

CCC Coach of the Year Craig O'Rourke II comments: "While these types of awards are bestowed upon individuals and recognize individual accomplishments or skill sets, they are also – and even more so – a reflection of an overall team success. In 2016, we went 4-12-1 and none of us were winning these types of awards. Because we went 16-1-3 (program record for wins and winning percentage, .875) this past season, we are earning a Top 10 regional ranking, seven All-Conference selections, three major conference awards, a CoSIDA Academic All-District® honoree, and now a record five All-Region selections ... and there are still more awards possible and hopefully, coming. The efforts of the individual contribute to the success of the team, and the success of the team allows for the recognition of the individual."