BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk men's soccer saw a record number of Rams pick up All-Conference distinction from the Commonwealth Coast Conference as the league office announced the 2023 awards Tuesday.
The trio of Matthew Belluardo, Jack Phelps and Brady Sorensen were named to the first-team, while Taj Jensen, Tommy Handelsman, Xander Balog and Diego Pierantozzi were named to the third-team.
The seven all-conference seasons are the most honors in a single season in the Rams record book, surpassing the previous mark of five set by last season's squad and the 2016 team.
The accolades poured in following one of the most historic seasons in Suffolk's history. The Rams received votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll three straight weeks, a program first, and not only appeared in the regional rankings, but were staples in the weekly poll since making its debut Sept. 12.
Under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Bill Maddock, Suffolk assembled a 10-5-4 overall record and was a penalty kick shy of returning to the CCC Championship contest for the second straight season. The group was instrumental in helping the blue-and-gold achieve double-digit wins for the second straight season, another first in the Rams year-by-year record book, which dates through the 2001 campaign.
Sorensen was a main cog in Suffolk's scoring machine. The senior from Plymouth, Massachusetts, led the team in goals (7) and points (16). Six of his seven strikes came against conference counterparts, while 14 of his 16 points were versus league opponents as well. He topped both categories in the CCC en route to his third overall all-league recognition.
Belluardo, a sophomore from Mahawh, New Jersey, was a scoring defenseman. He poured in five goals, including three game winners and dished out one assist to pick up his first all-league honor.
Phelps, a senior defensive midfielder from Westborough, Massachusetts, and Handlesman, a junior that calls Woodberry Forest, Virginia home, were crucial cogs in Suffolk's defense. The former started all 16 games he appeared, while the later chipped in seven points to the offense, all on assists.
Both Handelsman and Phelps were in front of Balog in between the post this season. The junior from tallahasse, Florida, assembled a 0.88 GAA and .774 save percentage in his eight appearances. He built a 4-2-2 overall record with four cleansheets, three of which came against conference counterparts.
The threesome of Handelsman, Balog and Phelps garnered all-conference for the second time in their careers and in as many years.
Pierantozzi and Jensen, meanwhile, scooped up all-league for the first time in their careers. The former, a sophomore from Weston, Florida, registered 13 points on six strikes and one helper. He was the first player in the Maddock era to produce a hat trick, with a three-goal effort in a 4-1 win at Endicott Sept. 23. The latter, Jensen, contributed eight points on three goals and two helpers.
Suffolk's trophy shelf now features 14 CCC awards: four first-time, three second-team and second third-team accolades. When combined with the vast Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors, the Rams have earned 61 all-league acknowledgements including one offensive player of the year, one defensive player of the year, three rookie of the year, 13 first-team honors, 22 second-team selections and 21 third-team nods.
2023 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CCC TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year: Benji Wright, Gordon
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Casey Torres, Gordon
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Niall Shea, Roger Williams
Rookie of the Year: Dylan Thomas, Roger Williams
Coach of the Year: O'Neill, Western New England
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tiago Frazao, Endicott (Trumbull, Conn.)
Team Sportsmanship Award: University of New England
All-CCC First-Team
F - Lucas Drons, Curry
F - Tiago Frazao, Endicott
F - Benji Wright, Gordon
F - Brady Sorensen, Suffolk
M - Tim Lynch, Endicott
M - Jack Wildermann, Roger Williams
M - Jack Phelps, Suffolk, Senior
D - Casey Torres, Gordon
D - Niall Shea, Roger Williams
D - Matthew Belluardo, Suffolk
GK - Braylon Casinghino, Western New England,
All-CCC Second-Team
F - Will Savage, Nichols
F - Liam Blaisdell, Roger Williams
F - CJ Sousa, Roger Williams
M - JD Santiago, Curry
M - John Norbury, Gordon
M - Noah Martin, Gordon, Junior
M - Malik Serriser, Western New England
D - Konrad Krysztoforski, Endicott
D - Jason Salley, Roger Williams
D - Sam Riley, Western New England
D - Matt Spruill, Western New England
GK - Hogan Cain, Roger Williams
All-CCC Third-Team
F - Adam Pforr, Curry
F - Diego Pierantozzi, Suffolk
F - Jacob Dukeshire, Wentworth
M - Conor Rooney, Endicott
M - Dylan Thomas
M - Taj Jensen, Suffolk
M - Sean Lanzillo, Western New England
D - Joe Akisik, Endicott
D - Isaac Bennett, Gordon
D - Tommy Handelsman, Suffolk
D - Mike Riley, Western New England
GK - Xander Balog, Suffolk