University of Connecticut Athletics
Five Huskies Named to Northeast Regional Teams
12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 14, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - Five UConn men's soccer players have been named to the 2009 Northeast Regional Teams, including First Team members Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Toni Stahl. Josh Ford and Tony Cascio earned spots on the Second Team, while Carlos Alvarez was named to the Third Team after they lead the Huskies to their 30th overall and 12th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Stahl concluded his career with the Huskies with multiple accolades, including being named a 2009 NSCAA/Performance Subaru Second Team All-American, a College Soccer News Second Team All-American, a TopDrawerSoccer.com Second Team All-American as well as the 2009 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year. He was also an unanimous selection for the All-BIG EAST First Team for the third consecutive season.
Watson-Siriboe also achieved many honors in his final year with the Huskies as he was named the 2009 BIG EAST Co-Defender of the Year while earning a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team. He earned BIG EAST Defender of the Week honors twice during his final season with the Huskies and was named to the Soccer America Men's Team of the Week on Sept. 28. The senior finished the year earning a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com, the Goal.com and the College Soccer News First Teams. Watson-Siriboe, Stahl and fellow senior Mike Pezza were all invited to the 2010 MLS Combine that will be taking place Jan. 8-12 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Junior goalkeeper, Josh Ford, earned a spot on the 2009 Northeast Region Second Team after the Huskies earned their 18th BIG EAST title during the program's 27-year stint in the conference. The UConn defense allowed just 10 goals on the year, the lowest number of goals allowed in program history other than the 1948 NSCAA Championship season, a year in which the men's soccer program played in just 11 games and allowed fewer goals (4).
Ford's successful season in net for the Huskies was good enough to place him on the All-BIG EAST Third Team with Alvarez as he led the conference with a 0.51 goals against average and 12 shutouts during the regular season. He was given Goalkeeper of the Week honors once, while being named ECAC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13. He also earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Sept. 14 and 28. Sophomore Tony Cascio joined Ford on the Second Team as he finished the year leading the Huskies with 19 points on a team-best seven goals along with five assists. Cascio was also an All-BIG EAST First Team selection.
Freshman Carlos Alvarez, who had a stellar rookie campaign with the Huskies, finished 2009 being selected for the Northeast Region Third Team, while earning the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honor and was named to both the All-BIG EAST Third Team as well as the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team. Alvarez led the Nation in assists as well as the BIG EAST Conference as his efforts throughout the year gave him the opportunity to be one of the best freshmen in the country, earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors three consecutive weeks from Oct. 12 - Oct. 26.
Alvarez was also named ECAC Offensive Player of the Week and the Soccer America National Player of the Week on Oct. 20. He was also chosen for the Soccer America Team of the Week twice as well as the CollegeSoccer.com National Team of the Week on Oct. 19. To end the season he earned a spot on the TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's All-Rookie First Team.
