MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Chris Tsonis (Dartmouth, Mass.) of the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team was named the Daktronics East Region Co-Player of the Year, while a total of five Penmen garnered Daktronics All-Region honors, it was announced Monday. Tsonis, senior Ruben Resendes (Fall River, Mass.) and freshman Jonathan Lupinelli (Mont de Marsan, France) earned First Team honors, while junior Dom DiMaggio (Rome, N.Y.) and freshman Dominic Samuel (Toronto, Ontario) received Second Team accolades.
The Daktronics All-America and All-Region teams are selected by athletics communications professionals at NCAA Division II institutions.
Tsonis, who shares regional Player of the Year honors with Joe Baccielo of Post University, led Southern New Hampshire and the Northeast-10 in scoring for the second straight season with 16 goals and four assists for 36 points, A co-captain and two-time NE-10 First Team selection, Tsonis notched seven-game winning goals on the season and recorded at least one goal in 14 of SNHU's 23 games. He wrapped up his career tied for ninth in career goals with 40 over his four seasons.
Resendes, a four-year starting midfielder for the Penmen, garnered Daktronics First Team All-Region accolades for the second time in his career. He started every game for the Penmen in 2012 and was a key playmaker for an offense that registered 55 goals in 23 games. Resendes finished the season with four assists.
Lupinelli, a defender, was one of four players and the only freshman to start all 23 games in 2012 for the Penmen. A Northeast-10 Second Team All-Conference selection, Lupinelli was a integral part of an SNHU defense that allowed 13 goals in 23 games and posted 12 shutouts, again ranking among the national leaders in team defense. Lupinelli also ranked second on the team in assists, recording eight helpers on the season.
DiMaggio, an NE-10 Third Team selection in goal, started 21 of SNHU's 23 contests on the season and registered a 0.52 goals-against average, .776 save percentage and 11 shutouts on the season. He recorded four shutouts in six postseason games for the Penmen and ranked third nationally in goals-against average nationally in the most recent NCAA statistical report.
Samuel, a defender, started all but one contest on the backline for the Penmen and along with Lupinelli anchored one of the nation's stingiest defenses. The Northeast-10 Second Team selection also recorded four goals on the season, including a pair of game-winners.
Southern New Hampshire finished the 2012 season 19-4, its most victories since 2002. The Penmen captured their first NCAA regional championship in a decade, advanced to the Division II quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons and also won the program's fourth Northeast-10 tournament title.
