The United Soccer Coaches have released their 2017 regional postseason awards, and six AMCC men's soccer players found their names selected to the All-Great Lakes Region Teams. They include Franciscan University senior Leo Herrmann, Mount Aloysius College freshman Will Funez, Penn State Behrend sophomore Chris Ralph and Senior Matt Dziadosz, and Medaille College sophomores Mitchell Ali and Sam Beesley.
The USC honor is Herrmann's third in a row, after becoming the first Baron to earn a spot on the all-region teams his sophomore year. This season, the AMCC Offensive Player of the Year was named to the All-Great Lakes First Team and is eligible for All-American honors for the first time. Herrmann finished the year with 19 goals and eight assists for 46 points, all three marks break or tie the previous season-best at FUS, all held by Herrmann. His eight assists tie the program single-season assist record while the goal and point totals break the records. Herrmann posted seven game-winning goals, breaking his previous single-season mark and converted five of six penalty kicks, both are single-season records for Franciscan.
After picking up AMCC Newcomer of the Year honors, Funez was selected to the Great Lakes All-Region Third Team at the forward position. At the conclusion of the season, Funez ranked in a tie for first in the AMCC in conference goals scored with nine and his 14 total goals put him in third place among all conference players. He finished the regular season with 14 goals and four assists for 32 points, which was also third in the conference. The winger was second in the league with six game-winning goals, including four straight game-winning goals in the final four regular season games of the season for the Mounties. Funez finished the season with 10 goals and three assists over the Mounties final six regular season games.
Ralph and Dziadosz each were awarded a spot on the first team after leading the Lions to success on both the defensive and offensive spectrums of the field, respectively. They will both move onto the ballot for a chance at All-American status, as well. Goalkeeper Ralph, previously named the AMCC Defensive Player of the Year, has yet another award to add to his accolades, being named to the All-Region First Team for the second consecutive year. He ended his sophomore season averaging .73 goals-against while allowing only four conference goals to rank first in the AMCC. Ralph accumulated eight shutouts during the regular season to rank him 13th in the country.
Dziadosz was recently named to the AMCC First Team for the first time in his career and now has an All-Region honor to cap off his career. Dziadosz led the Lions in goals (10), assists (11), and points (31), ranking him tied for fifth, second, fourth in the conference respectively.
Ali was named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team just weeks after earning AMCC All-Conference First Team honors for the first time in his career. Ali had a magical season, scoring 11 total goals and assisting on 6 more. In AMCC play Ali found the back of the net six times, including his first career hat trick against Penn State Altoona. Four of his six helpers came in conference play as he finished the season with 28 total points. He saved his best for last as he scored Medaille's lone goal in overtime against D'Youville College in the first round of the AMCC championship tournament, ensuring a spot in the semifinals for the Mavs as they eventually earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.
Beesley was named to the All-Great Lakes Region Third Team after being selected to the AMCC All-Conference First Team for the second straight season. Beesley was crucial as part of a back line that allowed less than one goal per game in conference play (0.97). In nine games Beesley was part of a back line that gave up 69 shots on goal less than what the Mavericks were able to throw at opposing goalkeepers, and helped keep six clean sheets in conference play. Just one goal was conceded by the Mavericks in the regular season final six contests. Beesley was also was key offensively in a 4-3 overtime win at home against La Roche, were he scored a career high two goals. He finished the 2017 campaign with three goals, one assist and seven total points.