Liberty League announces 2016 Men's Soccer Awards; Baughen named Player of the Year
2016 ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE MEN'S SOCCER AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Devon Baughen, Sr., Forward, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior forward Devon Baughen was selected as the Liberty League Player of the Year after leading the Engineers’ to their fourth conference tournament appearance in five years. The three-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week selection was among league leaders in numerous offensive categories, including—shots per game (2.63), points per game (1.16), goals per game (.421) and assists per game (.316). He recorded at least a point in all eight league matches this season and he tied the RPI record with at least one point in nine consecutive games. Baughen had a hand (goal or assist) in 14 of RPI’s 19 goals on the year (73.6%).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Adebare Oyeniyi, Sr., Defense, Skidmore College
Skidmore College senior defender Adebare Oyeniyi was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. He guided the Thoroughbreds to their second straight league championship game. A four-year starter and on-field leader for Skidmore, Oyeniyi helped anchor a defense that allowed less than four shots on goal per game in the regular season (3.94). He also contributed offensively this year with a goal and an assist.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Mattie Mrlik, Fr., Forward, Vassar College
Vassar College freshman forward Mattie Mrlik was selected as the Liberty League Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year after leading the Brewers and league offensively all season long. Mrlik finished the regular season with 23 points (8 goals, 7 assists) and he opened the league tournament with a first-half hat trick to help Vassar advance to its first league championship game since 2012. He was also tops in the league for shots, totaling 66 (3.47 per game) The three-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection had eight multi-point games this season and tallied a point in 12 of 18 games for the Brewers.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Vassar College – Head Coach Andy Jennings; Assistant Coach Ross Macklin and Volunteer Assistant Coach Chuck Wilder
Vassar College head coach Andy Jennings, assistant coach Ross Macklin and volunteer assistant Chuck Wilder were selected as the Liberty League coaching staff of the year as voted by the league’s head coaches. The Brewers compiled a regular season record of 12-3-2, the best in program history. They advanced to the Liberty League championship game for the first time since 2012 and captured their first Liberty League title since 2011. Vassar opened the season undefeated through its first six games (5-0-1) and posted eight shutouts this season. The Brewers had one of the league’s top offenses in 2016, averaging a league-best 2.3 goals per game and totaling 124 points (43 goals, 38 assists).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
F- Tapshak Augustine, So., St. Lawrence
F- Devon Baughen, Sr., RPI
F- Mattie Mrlik, Fr., Vassar
F- Kevin Santos, Jr., Skidmore
M- Kevin Calnan, Jr., Clarkson
M- Adrian Colemares, Jr., Hobart
M- Jethro Dede, So., St. Lawrence
M- Hayden Van Brewer, Jr., Vassar
B- Andrew Gondek, Sr., RPI
B- Adebare Oyeniyi, Sr., Skidmore
GK- Michael King, Sr., Clarkson
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM
F- Austin Okoye, Skidmore
F- Nick Shenberger, Jr., Bard
M- Noah Bunton, Sr., St. Lawrence
M- Andrew Fontaine, Sr., Union
M- Alex Gonzales, Sr., Vassar
M- Austin Higgins, So., Bard
M- JP White, Jr., Hobart
B- Rob Brandell, Jr., St. Lawrence
B- Scott Fishel, Sr., RIT
B- Tyler Gilmore, So., Vassar
B- James Homan, So., Clarkson
B- Ross Suitor, Sr., St. Lawrence
GK- John Weitzman, Jr., Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION
F- Nate Cary, Fr., Hobart
F- Brendan McNamee, So., St. Lawrence
F- Jose Novas, Jr., Vassar
M- Ryan Roche, Jr., St. Lawrence
M- Will Schiesswohl, Fr., RIT
M- Reid Smith, Fr., Vassar
M- Ethan Strauss, Jr., Union
M- Dylan Weitz, Sr., RPI
B- Tamaki Chiba, Sr., Bard
B- Binjo Emmanuel, Fr., Hobart
B- Joseph Escamilla, Jr., Hobart
B- Nick Masiero, Sr., Skidmore
B- Tanner Sands, Vassar
B- Ben Poole, Jr., Skidmore
GK- Peter Cinibulk, So., RIT
GK- Matt LaBranche, Fr., RPI
GK- Derrick Yam, Sr., Skidmore