NAC Announces Men’s Soccer Post Season Awards

AURORA, Ill. November 16, 2006 - The Northern Athletics Conference announced its 2006 men’s soccer All-Conference and postseason awards. The Aurora University Spartan men’s soccer team placed five players on the NAC First-Team and one player each on the Honorable Mention and All-Rookie teams.

The AU Men’s Soccer program, under the direction of fourth year Head Coach Pete Watkins, made its first NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championships appearance in the program’s history as a NCAA institution in 2006 after finishing with a 12-4-4 regular season record and were 8-1 with a second place finish in the NAC.

Success on the field brought postseason honors for five Spartans, senior forward and captain Alex DeGurian (Naperville, IL/Naperville North HS, four goals and one assist), senior defender Brad Johns (Aurora, IL/West Aurora HS, six goals), junior defender and captain Drew Taylor (DeKalb, IL/DeKalb HS, three goals and four assists), sophomore striker Chase Corricelli (Peoria, IL/Notre Dame HS, four goals and one assist) and junior midfielder Marshall Reed (Otsego, MI/Otsego HS, three goals and five assists).

Joining in the postseason recognition was junior defender Jordan Barry (Decatur, IL/St. Teresa HS) and freshman goalkeeper Anthony Collins (Aurora, IL/Waubonsie Valley HS). Barry was named to the NAC Men’s Soccer Honorable Mention All-Conference Team, while Collins was named to the NAC All-Rookie Team.

Johns, Taylor and Barry anchored an attacking defense in front of the youthful Collins who had four shutouts, allowed 11 goals and a 1.20 goals against average. Collins was 3-0 with one shutout, 14 saves and a 0.44 goals against average before suffering a season ending injury.

The Spartans were led by Corricelli, DeGurian and Johns on their journey to the first NCAA appearance for AU Men’s Soccer program and a 12-5-4 final record. Corricelli led the Spartan offense with 12 goals, two assists and three game-winning goals, while DeGurian chipped in eight goals, two assists and one game-winning goal. Johns, the leader of the defense, added seven goals, one assist with two goals coming as game winners.

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