Lawrenceville, Ga. – Two Gents, sophomores Wil Escobar and Sami Borchalli, were named to the 2019 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Team, it was announced on Thursday after exclusive voting by the league's head coaches.
Escobar, a midfielder from Cypress, Texas, was named to the First Team while Borchalli, a goalkeeper from Lafayette, La., earned Honorable Mention honors. The two selections were Centenary's first since the 2016 season and Escobar's honor marked the first time that a Gent has been named to the first team.
"I cannot say enough good things about Wil and the year he has had," said third-year Centenary head coach Kyle Symczak. "It is a true testament to the work he put in this off-season and the mindset he brings every time he steps foot on a field. I love the way he competes and how he lets his play do the talking. I am very proud of Wil and he deserves this recognition because of the type of person he is on and off the field."
"Sami really stepped up in all areas for us this year, especially as a leader. He did a fantastic job keeping our team organized and came up big for us on more than one occasion. I am thrilled he has been recognized by the conference and I know he will continue to improve not only as a goalkeeper, but a leader as well."
Luis Green of Texas Lutheran University was selected 2019 SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, the second consecutive season he has earned the honor, while University of St. Thomas' Carlos Marquez was tabbed as SCAC Defensive Player of the Year. Colorado College's Griffin Meyer earned Newcomer of the Year honors while his head coach, Scott Palguta, was named SCAC Coach of the Year.
Centenary finished the season an even 8-8 and 3-6 in SCAC play and the Gents roster featured 17 freshmen or sophomores along with five juniors and just four seniors so a strong core looks to return in 2020, including both Borchalli and Escobar.
The Gents posted five shutouts during the season and went 7-3 at home. Centenary won the second-most games in a single season in the division III era this season. The Maroon and White finished eighth in the SCAC standings, just missing a conference tournament berth and finished just behind Dallas (3-5-1), and Austin College (3-5). Centenary handed regular-season champion Colorado College its only loss in SCAC play this season as the Gents blanked the Tigers, 2-0, at Mayo Field on Oct. 6.
Escobar led the team this season with 10 goals and 20 points and ranked second or tied for second in the conference in goals, goals per game, and game-winning goals this season. Freshman midfielder Andres Bautista (Houston, Texas) added six goals and three assists, and senior Scott Halper (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) and freshman Nick Garcia (Carrollton, Texas) combined for seven goals. Junior midfielder Greg Petreas (Denton, Texas) collected a team-best four assists.
#GoCentenary #CTheOpportunity
