ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman College led the way on the 2009 All-South Atlantic Conference teams with seven selections SAC officials announced Friday. The announcement was made as a part of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament which is currently underway at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill.

Forwards Omar Cooke (Roanoke, Va.) and Robert Hill (Middlesbrough, ENGLAND), as well as defenders Adam Thomas (Morristown, Tenn.) and Matthew Finlay (Liverpool, ENGLAND) were named to the first team. Midfielders Everardo Flores (Silver Spring, Md.) and Richard Marquetty (New York, N.Y.) were named to the second team, as was goalkeeper Jordan Moore (Hendersonville, Tenn.).

Carson-Newman Head Coach Allen Vital guided the Eagles to their record seventh SAC title and sixth league crown in the last seven years. He ranks second all-time in conference wins and wins the award for the fifth time in his career.

Carson-Newman also was named the team statistical champion for win percentage (.781).

Wingate University All-American Luke Mulholland was named Player of the Year while Newberry College freshman Adrian Ochoa was named Freshman of the Year.

Mulholland, a junior midfielder from Preston, England, has been named first-team All-Conference each of his three seasons and was named a third-team All-American last season. This season, he is averaging 1.0 goal per match and 2.2 points per match. Eleven of his 15 goals this season came against conference opponents.

Ochoa, a freshman forward from East Point, Ga., was named second team All-SAC and led Newberry with six goals in his first season.

Tusculum College also had seven all-conference selections. Midfielders Anteneh Lemma and Scott Lucky, were first-team selections, while forwards Andres Jarquin, Marc Joseph, midfielder Lucas Paulini and defenders Nick Rich and Phillip Hagen were named to the second team.

Lincoln Memorial University had five all-league selections. Midfielder Aaron McKenna, defender Lucas Pereira and goalkeeper Mike Watkins were all named to the first team, while forwards Willian Moura and Fernando Silveira were named to the second team.

Wingate University placed four on the All-SAC teams. Joining Mulholland on the first team are Junior Nyemb at forward and defender Tom Poole. Defender Jack Vundum was named to the second team.

The Scholar-Athlete Award for men's soccer went to Nyemb as well.

Lenoir-Rhyne University had three selections. Forward Dave Bailey, midfielder Gary Higgins and defender Jon Abraham were all named to the first team.

Newberry's Ochoa, a second-team pick, rounds out the All-Conference team.

The Fair Play Award for men's soccer went to Tusculum. The award goes to the team that demonstrates good sportsmanship in conference play.

The All-South Atlantic Conference teams are selected by the league's nine head coaches.

2009 South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Omar Cooke, Carson-Newman
Forward - Robert Hill, Carson-Newman
Forward - Dave Bailey, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Junior Nyemb, Wingate
Midfielder - Gary Higgins, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Aaron McKenna, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Anteneh Lemma, Tusculum
Midfielder - Scott Lucky, Tusculum
Midfielder - Luke Mulholland, Wingate
Defender - Adam Thomas, Carson-Newman
Defender - Matthew Finlay Carson-Newman
Defender - Jon Abraham, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Lucas Pereira, Lincoln Memorial
Defender - Tom Poole, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Mike Watkins, Lincoln Memorial

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Willian Moura, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Fernando Silveira, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Adrian Ochoa, Newberry
Forward - Andres Jarquin, Tusculum
Forward - Marc Joseph, Tusculum
Midfielder - Everardo Flores, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Richard Marquetty, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Lucas Paulini, Tusculum
Defender - Nick Rich, Tusculum
Defender - Phillip Hagen, Tusculum
Defender - Jack Vundum, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Jordan Moore, Carson-Newman

COACH OF THE YEAR - Allen Vital, Carson-Newman
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Luke Mulholland, Wingate
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Adrian Ochoa, Newberry
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE - Junior Nyemb, Wingate
FAIR PLAY AWARD - Tusculum

STATISTICAL CHAMPIONS
Goals Per Match - Dave Bailey, LRU (.94)
Points Per Match - Dave Bailey, LRU (2.25)
Assists Per Match - Anteneh Lemma, TC (.53)
Goals Against Average - Michael Watkins, LMU (.81)
Goalkeeper Shutouts Per Game - Michael Watkins, LMU (.47)
Save Percentage - Francisco Banuelos, LRU (.82)
Team Points Per Match - WU (7.47)
Team Goals Per Match - WU (2.8)
Team Assists Per Match - TC (2.53)
Team Shutouts Per Match - LMU (.47)
Team Goal Against Average - LMU (.85)
Team Winning Percentage – C-N (.781)