KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Graduate student Sofiane Tergou (Bitche, France) and seniors Dominic Samuel (Toronto, Ontario), Nick Zucco (Ludlow, Mass.) and Sebastian Stezewski (New Britain, Conn.) of the Southern New Hampshire University men's soccer team were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Team. All four, along with senior Jonathan Lupinelli (Mont de Marsan, France), were also rewarded with NSCAA All-East Region First Team honors.
Tergou, who earned a spot on the First Team, was the leading scorer for the Penmen this season with eight goals and 12 assists for 28 points. Tergou ranked second in the league in assists and points, seventh in game-winning goals (3) and eighth in total goals. Tergou has previously garnered selections this season to the CCA All-America Third Team, CCA All-East Region First Team and Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team, in addition to be chosen as the Northeast-10 Player of the Year.
Samuel made the First Team after helping to anchor a backline that featured the league's best goals-against average (0.47), which was nearly twice as low as the next closest opponent. He also scored three goals, including a game-winner, for six points. Samuel, who was a First Team pick for CCA All-America, CCA All-East Region, and Northeast-10 All-Conference, as well as the Northeast-10 Defender of the Year, was also an NSCAA All-American in both 2014 and 2013.
Zucco joined Tergou and Samuel on the First Team as he adds to his accolades from this season, which include CCA All-America First Team, CCA All-East Region First Team, Northeast-10 Goalkeeper of the Year, Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team, and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. Zucco crafted a stellar season in net in which he started 17 matches, going 16-1-1 with 12 shutouts to go along with a microscopic 0.43 goals-against average and an .869 save percentage. In the league, Zucco ranked first in wins, shutouts, goals against (8), GAA and save percentage. Zucco ended the season with a personal shutout streak of 561:02 that he will carry into next season.
Stezewski was tabbed for the Third Team after leading the team in goals (11) and ranking second in total points (25). Stezewski paced the conference with seven game-winning goals, ranked fourth in overall goals and sixth in points. Stezewski has garnered Northeast-10 Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team honors this season.
Lupinelli adds to his recognition this season as he was already tabbed for the Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team, CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. In addition to playing a key role on SNHU's stingy defense, Lupinelli dished eight assists, which ranked him second on the team and third in the Northeast-10.
The Penmen finished the season ranked No. 9 overall after submitting a record of 19-1-1 and reaching the East Regional final for the first time since their national title run in 2013. The Penmen, who earned their 21st overall NCAA Tournament berth, captured the Northeast-10's top seed following a 12-1-0 conference mark and went on to earn their fourth straight NE-10 title.
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