West Babylon, N.Y. – The East Coast Conference announced its Men's Soccer All-Conference honors on Friday morning. Dylan Ruiz (Mexico City, Mexico) of Roberts Wesleyan was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year, while fellow Redhawk, Jared Gibbons (Johannesburg, South Africa), was named the ECC Rookie of the Year. Mercy's Gaston Rozenblum (Buenos Aires, Argentina) repeats as the ECC Defensive Player of the Year and Bridgeport netminder Carlos Tofern (Hamburg, Germany) claimed the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
After a solid freshman season, Ruiz had a breakout 2019 campaign. The forward led the ECC with 17 goals, 36 points, and seven game-winning goals. His name is also littered throughout the Division II leader board, as well. Heading into ECC Championship play, Ruiz's game-winning goal total was tops in the nation, while his goal total was third. He also ranked in the top-10 in Division II in points (6th), goals per game (4th - 1.06), and points per game (7th - 2.25).
Rozenblum has been named the ECC's top defender for the second straight season. He was a key factor in a Mercy backline that allowed just 12 goals over 18 games, shutout seven opponents, and ranked 13th in Division II with a 0.64 goals against average. In addition, Rozenblum contributed on the offensive end with one goal and an ECC-leading eight assists.
Tofern claims the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award. The sophomore posted an 8-4-1 record to go along with a 0.76 goals against average and an ECC-high six shutouts. He also paced the conference and ranked 15th in Division II with a .821 save percentage
Gibbons makes it two goalkeepers honored with a top award by earning the Rookie of the Year honor. He helped the Redhawks to their first-ever ECC Championship appearance with a 6-5 record, and a .718 save percentage.
Lastly, Bridgeport's Peter Doneit and Mercy's Pedro Velazquez share the ECC's Coach of the Year honor. Doneit led the Purple Knights to a 10-5-1 record and the No. 2 seed in the program's first ECC Championship appearance since 2015. Velazquez earns the honor for the second straight season. after he guided the Mavericks to a 13-3-2 record and an ECC Regular Season Championship.
2019 ECC Men's Soccer All-Conference
First Team
F - Leandro Avila, Sr., Bridgeport
F - Anthony Cestaro, Sr., Molloy
F - Dylan Ruiz, So., Roberts Wesleyan
M - Manuel Achondo, Sr., Mercy
M - Carlos Bonilla, Sr., Molloy
M - Oscar Facey, So., Bridgeport
M - Terrell Spencer, Sr., Roberts Wesleyan
B - Aaron Denk-Gracia, So., Mercy
B - Marlon Montanella, Gr., Bridgeport
B - Gaston Rozenblum, Sr., Mercy
GK - Carlos Tofern, So., Bridgeport
Second Team
F - Ignacio Mangada, Sr., Mercy
F - Simon-Peter Omooba, Sr., New York Tech
F - Bernd Schluter, Gr., New York Tech
M - Jose Izarra, Sr., Mercy
M - Paul Morales, Sr., Molloy
M - Alex Perez Vega, So., Roberts Wesleyan
M - Lucas Santos, Sr., Bridgeport
B - Paul Hayes, Sr., Queens
B - Francisco Ricci, Jr., Mercy
B - Jonas Schmelcher, So., Bridgeport
GK - Joel Serrano, Jr., Mercy
Third Team
F - Vitor Gomes, Jr., Dist. Columbia
F - Goncalo Mendes, Gr., Bridgeport
F - Maximiliano Rebolledo-Camus, Sr., Mercy
M - Matthias Kuhn, Fr., Mercy
M - Kevin Martinez, Jr., New York Tech
M - Erlend Skagestad, Sr., Bridgeport
M - Malik Thom, Dist. Columbia
B - Aaryn Massy, So., Roberts Wesleyan
B - Jason Mayorga, Sr., Dist. Columbia
B - Danny Muir, Fr., Molloy
GK - Jared Gibbons, Fr., Roberts Wesleyan
Offensive Player of the Year: Dylan Ruiz, Roberts Wesleyan
Defensive Player of the Year: Gaston Rozenblum, Mercy
Goalkeeper of the Year: Carlos Tofern, Bridgeport
Rookie of the Year: Jared Gibbons, Roberts Wesleyan
Co-Coach of the Year: Peter Doneit, Bridgeport
Co-Coach of the Year: Pedro Velazquez, Mercy
