NEW ORLEANS - Highlighted by Appalachian State University men's soccer defender
Zeiko Harris named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, two Mountaineers landed two on the All-Sun Belt team, the league announce Tuesday.
Harris was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Sun Belt, while midfielder
Alex McGrath earned Second Team All-Sun Belt honors.
"We are very happy for Zeiko and Alex to get some recognition from the coaches in the Sun Belt conference. They both have made tremendous impacts on the team this year," head coach
Jason O'Keefe said. "They have also been part of a core group of guys over the past two years who have set new standards for the program and helped achieve a lot of goals."
"As with any individual award, the success would not be possible without their teammates and what makes these two special is that they would be the first to acknowledge this."
Harris has anchored the App State defense that ended the regular season leading the Sun Belt in shutouts (7), T-2
nd in goals allowed (20) and 3
rd in goals against average (1.153). App State's shutout percentage of .412 sits at 37th nationally. Along with Harris' defensive effort, he has scored two goals this season, including the game-winner in the 2-0 win over George Mason. The defender has tallied nine shots with four on goal.
McGrath started in all 17 regular season games in 2019. Selected as captain this season, the midfielder has tallied three assists in wins against George Mason, UNC Greensboro, and Howard. The graduate student has taken eight shots and also helped in the defensive effort throughout the season.
The Mountaineers are set to take on the Howard Bison on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in the opening round of the Sun Belt Championship. The match is slated for 7 p.m. and will be played at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone, N.C.
2019 SUN BELT MEN'S SOCCER POSTSEASON HONORS
All-Sun Belt First Team
Niklas Brodacki, Central Arkansas (Sr., F, Norrkoping, Sweden)
Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Coastal Carolina (Sr., F, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Aris Briggs, Georgia State (Jr., F, Memphis, Tenn.)
Soren Jensen, Central Arkansas (Jr., MF, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Jeranimo Power, Coastal Carolina (Sr., MF, De Ar, South Africa)
Aldair Cortes, Georgia Southern (Jr., MF, Cairo, Ga.)
Andres Gomez, Howard (Sr., MF, Silver Spring, Md.)
Zeiko Harris, Appalachian State (Jr., D, Sandys Parish, Bermuda)
Alberto Suarez, Central Arkansas (Sr., D, Zaragosa, Spain)
Gonzalo Talavera, Georgia Southern (Sr., D, Madrid, Spain)
Kyle Clinton, Georgia State (Sr., D, Havant, England)
Carlos Caro, Howard (Sr., GK, Silver Spring, Md.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Kasper Andersen, Central Arkansas (Jr., F, Randers, Denmark)
Tyrone Mondi, Coastal Carolina (Jr., F, Bloemfontein, South Africa)
Azaad Liadi, Georgia Southern (Sr., F/MF, Sterling Heights, Mich.)
Alex McGrath, Appalachian State (Sr., MF, County Durham, England)
Mathias Bendiksen, Central Arkansas (So., MF/F, Finnsness, Norway)
DZ Harmon, Coastal Carolina (Fr., MF, Loganville, Ga.)
Ross Finnie, Georgia State (Fr., MF, Carnoustie, Scotland)
Edoardo Calzola, Central Arkansas (Fr., D, Perugia, Italy)
Morten Timm, Coastal Carolina (Sr., D, Thuringen, Germany)
Will Laufer, Central Arkansas (Sr., D, Lawrence, Kan.)
Marc Olsen, Central Arkansas (Sr., GK, Copenhagen, Denmark)
Alberto Ciroi, Coastal Carolina (Sr., GK, Martignacco, Italy)
Player of the Year
Niklas Brodacki, Central Arkansas (Sr., F, Norrkoping, Sweden)
Offensive Player of the Year
Aris Briggs, Georgia State (Jr., F, Memphis, Tenn.)
Defensive Player of the Year
Zeiko Harris, Appalachian State (Jr., D, Sandys Parish, Bermuda)
Freshman of the Year
Sam Snaith, Coastal Carolina (Fr., F, Cardiff, United Kingdom)
Newcomer of the Year
Azaad Liadi, Georgia Southern (Sr., F/MF, Sterling Heights, Mich.)
Coach of the Year
Ross Duncan, Central Arkansas
