BIDDEFORD, Maine – After enjoying its most successful season in over a decade, the Suffolk men's soccer team had five student-athletes named to the All-Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) teams, the league office announced Wednesday morning. Jack Phelps, Tommy Handelsman and Xander Balog earned spots on the second team, while Brady Sorensen and Carter Van Buskirk picked up third-team status.
The conference recognition comes on the heels of a 10-6-5 campaign, the most victories since 2010 (11-8-1), a 4-2-3 league ledger, the best showing in the CCC era, and a conference championship contest run, the second-ever in program history.
Balog was the backbone of Suffolk's success. The sophomore keeper from Tallahassee, Florida, was the lone goalie to see any action for the Rams this season. In 1910:00 minutes spanned over 21 games, he built a 1.23 GAA and .790 save percentage with a 10-6-5 mark, which included nine shutouts. The nine cleansheets mark a program record according to the game-by-game record book, which dates back to the 2003 season. Balog, a three-time CCC Defensive player of the Week this season, is the second-ever netminder in blue-and-gold to receive an all-league accolade, first since Jack Dejesus grabbed a third-team nod from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) in 2009.
Handelsman, a sophomore that calls Woodberry Forest, Virginia, home was a staple on the blackline in front of Balog all season. Not only did he help the defensive unit that limited opponents to just 0.76 goals per game, but he aided to Suffolk's scoring as well with two goals and six handouts for 10 points, good for a share of third on the team.
Like Handelsman, Phelps, a junior from Westborough, Massachusetts, was a defensive midfielder who a crucial cog in Suffolk's backline, starting all 21 of the Rams contests.
Sorensen was one of Suffolk's scoring sensations. The junior from Plymouth, Massachusetts, led the team in points with 15 behind a team-best six strikes and three helpers. He was a crucial competent in the postseason. First in the quarterfinals against Salve Regina, he racked up three points, one of each of the Rams goals, to help the blue-and-gold advance to the semis, where he found the back of the net at then-No. 23 Endicott. Of his six tallies, two where good for the game-winner, including a 1-0 decision at Lasell, Sept. 21, and a 4-0 shutout of CCC counterpart Wentworth Oct. 11.
Van Buskirk made the most of his first collegiate campaign. The freshman, who hails from St. Louis, Missouri, put together a 14-point stat line, good for second on the squad, with five goals and four helpers. He lifted the Rams to victory twice, a 1-0 decision at Westfield State, and a put away the game-winner in a 4-0 decision against the University of New England Oct. 8.
Sorensen is the lone repeat all-leaguer of the group as he collected his second honor in as many years with a third-team nod a year ago.
The group of five student-athletes picked for all-conference distinction is the largest group for Suffolk in the ccc era and the most number of Rams recognized since five players combined for six nods in 2016.
Suffolk's trophy shelf now features seven CCC awards: one first-team, three second-team and three third-team accolades. When combined with the vast GNAC honors, the Rams now have earned 54 all-league acknowledgements including one offensive player of the year, one defensive player of the year, three rookie of the year, 10 first-team honors, 22 second-team selections and 17 third-team nods.
2022 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CCC TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year - Joe Mepham, Endicott
Defensive Player of the Year - Jack Avellar, Roger Williams / Sean O'Neill, Western New England
Rookie of the Year - Tim Lynch, Endicott
CCC Scholar-Athlete - James Davies, Salve Regina
Coach of the Year - James Greenslit, Roger Williams
Team Sportsmanship – Gordon / University of New England
First-Team All-CCC
F - Jordan Borges, Salve Regina
F - Justin Horvath, Roger Williams
F - Joe Mepham, Endicott
M - Joe Akisik, Endicott
M - Javi Beltran, Roger Williams
M - Tiago Frazao, Endicott
M - Sean O'Neill, Western New England
B - Evan Arpin, Salve Regina
B - Spencer Butterworth, Endicott
B - Niall Shea, Roger Williams
GK - Jack Avellar, Roger Williams
Second-Team All-CCC
F - Lucas Drons, Curry
F - Max Karkos, Endicott
F - Kendy Prince, Salve Regina
F - Benji Wright, Gordon
M - Nikolas Padilla, Nichols
M - Jack Phelps, Suffolk
M - Ben Tomas, Salve Regina
B - Tommy Handelsman, Suffolk
B - Hayden Laske, Endicott
B - Sam Riley, Western New England
GK - Xander Balog, Suffolk
Third-Team All-CCC
F - William Savage, Nichols
F - Brady Sorensen, Suffolk
F - Brady Stevenson, Nichols
F - Carter Van Buskirk, Suffolk
M - Sean Lanzillo, Western New England
M - Noah Martin, Gordon
M - Jack Wildermann, Roger Williams
B - Camden Rigney, Endicott
B - Jason Salley, Roger Williams
B - Casey Torres, Gordon
GK - Kyle Rosa, Endicott