Three FMU soccer players earn All-Region recognition

Three Francis Marion University men’s soccer players – senior defender Willie Hunt, junior midfielder Kyle Clinton, and sophomore forward Juan Rivas – have been named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region team.

Hunt was selected to the second team, while Clinton and Rivas were third-team honorees.

Hunt, a native of Greer, S.C. was the only senior on head coach Kevin Varnado’s young squad. He started all 22 matches, scored four goals, including the winning overtime tally in the PBC Tournament championship match, and recorded two assists. As importantly, he anchored a Patriot defense that posted eight shutouts and a 1.35 goals against average, and allowed only 14 goals during the final 16 matches of the 2008 season.

Clinton, a native of Safety Harbor, Fla., also started all 22 matches and led the team with 10 goals and 25 points. He was tied for third on the team with five assists. He had two game-winning scores, including one against Carson-Newman College in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Rivas tallied nine goals and five assists for 23 points. Among the Clearwater, Fla., native’s nine goals were three match-winners.

The trio helped lead Francis Marion to a 14-5-3 record, both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, where the Patriots advanced to the second round.

This is the third time in team history that the Patriots have placed as many as three players on the All-Region squad. FMU had four selections in both 1999 and 2000.


2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer All-Southeast Region Team
FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name Year School Hometown
K Lance Moore Jr. Tusculum Morristown, TN
D Dominic Casciato Jr. Limestone Kent, England
D Thomas Ostvald Jr. Carson-Newman Stavanger, Norway
D Dale Parker Jr. Lees-McRae Worksop, England
M Adam Arthur Jr. Lander York, England
M Anteneh Lemma So. Tusculum Stockholm, Sweden
M Luke Mulholland So. Wingate Preston, England
F Aaron Brittain So. Lander Cleveland, England
F Bruno Conceicao Sr. Tusculum Valencia, Bahia
F Omar Cooke Jr. Carson-Newman Roanoke, VA
F Lee Squires So. Lees-McRae Sheffield, England

SECOND TEAM
K Billy Hale So. Lander Athens, GA
D Willie Hunt Sr. Francis Marion Greer, SC
D Aaron McKenna So. Lincoln Memorial Birmingham, England
D Felipe Nogiera Jr. Lincoln Memorial Uberaba, Brazil
D Chad Pennick Sr. Queens Satellite Beach, FL
M Miguel Ferrer Sr. UNC Pembroke Miami, FL
M Stephon Henry Sr. Anderson Kingston, Jamaica
M Lucas Paulini So. Tusculum Buenos Aires, Argentina
F Junior Nyemb Jr. Wingate Douala, Cameroon
F Debola Ogunseye Sr. Newberry Lagos, Nigeria
F Lasse Sohrweide Fr. Anderson Flensburg, Germany

THIRD TEAM
K Sean Paradise Jr. Lees-McRae North Port, FL
D Rondon Bacchus Sr. Mars Hill Point Fortin, Trinidad
D Kyle Bennett Sr. Erskine Lilburn, GA
D James Owusu Sr. Belmont Abbey Alexandria, VA
M Tom Beattie Sr. Limestone Goole, England
M Kyle Clinton Jr. Francis Marion Clearwater, FL
M Scott Lucky Jr. Tusculum Sacramento, CA
F Kofi Akyere Sr. USC Aiken Union, GA
F Ali Benson Jr. Limestone Hull, England
F Leighton Fredericks Fr. Clayton State Durban, South Africa
F Juan Rivas So. Francis Marion Clearwater, FL