Mercyhurst's Thom Derks Named PSAC Men's Soccer Athlete of the Year
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Mercyhurst graduate student Thom Derks has been named the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Year while teammate Jorge Gonzalez earned PSAC Freshman of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday morning in conjunction with the release of the all-conference men’s soccer teams.
Derks tied for the league lead in goals (22) while tying for third in assists (six). The Laker scored all four goals in a 4-3 conference win against Shippensburg (Oct. 8) before recording a hat trick against Gannon (Oct. 25). Derks is the third Mercyhurst player to earn the award and first since 2014. The Lakers claimed the PSAC Men’s Soccer title with a 2-1 win against Millersville Sunday, where he scored the matches’ first goal, and earned a berth to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament.
Gonzalez put together a stellar freshman campaign with 14 goals and five assists. He tied for third in the conference in goals and tied for sixth in assists. Five of his goals were match-winners, including one against Seton Hill in the PSAC semifinals. He is the second Mercyhurst player to garner the award and first since 2013.
Mercyhurst coach Nenad Vidakovic claims the PSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year after his team earned the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Tournament and posted a 15-4-1 overall mark and 10-1 in conference play. Vidakovic is the second Mercyhurst coach to win the award and first since 2012. The Lakers earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA DII Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament and battle Urbana in the second round.
California sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Exner grabs the PSAC Defensive Player of the Year after finishing second in the league in saves (91), tying for second in shutouts (six) and allowing 20 goals in 17 contests. Exner was named PSAC Freshman of the Year last season. He is the first Vulcan to win the defensive award while his team posted a 10-6-1 record.
West Chester forward Miguel Ross lands on an all-conference team for the fourth consecutive season.
Seton Hill’s Joe Smith, Millersville’s Christopher Sosa and Exner earn first-team honors for the second time in their careers.
Mercyhurst leads the league with six representatives while WCU has five. Millersville, Gannon and Seton Hill amass three each.
PSAC Men’s Soccer Athlete of the Year: Thom Derks, Mercyhurst
PSAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Athlete of the Year: Lucas Exner, California
PSAC Men’s Soccer Freshman of the Year: Jorge Gonzalez, Mercyhurst
PSAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year: Nenad Vidakovic, Mercyhurst
PSAC Men’s Soccer First-Team All-Conference
D –Harrison Howes^, Seton Hill
D – Kyle Finsterbush^, Millersville
D – Tim French, West Chester
D – Sami Phelps, West Chester
F – Thom Derks, Mercyhurst
F – Hamza Mourchid, Gannon
F – Troy Amspacher, Lock Haven
F – Jorge Gonzalez, Mercyhurst
MF – Joe Smith^*, Seton Hill
MF – Christian Bukowski, East Stroudsburg
MF – Christopher Sosa*, Millersville
MF – Rory McKinnon, Seton Hill
GK – Lucas Exner*, California
PSAC Men’s Soccer Second-Team All-Conference
D – George Stannard, Gannon
D – Michael Dirienzo, Mercyhurst
D – Kyle Johnson, Mercyhurst
D – Patrick Sullivan, Slippery Rock
F – Curtis Gallagher, Seton Hill
F – Miguel Ross^^*, West Chester
F – Cooper Amos, California
F – Nathan Delgado^, Millersville
MF – Mark Roche, Mercyhurst
MF – Sergio Kobowane, Gannon
MF – Brian Schaefer, West Chester
MF – Connor Wilkinson, Mercyhurst
GK – James Wood, West Chester
* Indicates previous All-PSAC first team selection
^ Indicates previous All-PSAC second team selection