Tyler Blackwood Leads Men’s Soccer All-SSC Team as Player of the Year

WINTER PARK, Fla. - A total of 24 student-athletes have been named to the 2013 All-Sunshine State Conference Men's Soccer Team. For the second-straight season Tampa's Tyler Blackwood was selected both Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Andrew Clare was also a second-team choice.

Rollins' Walker Hume was named Defensive Player of the Year, while his teammate Tosan Popo was chosen Freshman of the Year. Saint Leo's head coach Keith Fulk was tabbed Coach of the Year.

Named to the All-SSC First Team with Blackwood (F), Hume (D) and Popo (M) were: forwards Tucker Hume (Rollins) and Maximilian Schulz-Geisthovel (Saint Leo); midfielders Alex Bisbee (Rollins) and Edgar Herrera (Saint Leo); defenders Nicola Brivio (Nova Southeastern) and Chris Lavie (Saint Leo); goalkeeper Keneil Baker (Rollins); and at-large selection Manuel Schoenhuber (Saint Leo).

Receiving a spot on the all-conference second team were: forwards Grant Blackhurst (Rollins), Chris Hellman (Lynn) and Rafa Faria (Rollins); midfielders Melvin Agyei Boateng (Saint Leo), Luke Jenner (Florida Southern) and Michael O'Neil (Lynn); defenders Javier Lopez Mochon (Lynn), Jason Sangha (Lynn) and Jack Winter (Lynn); goalkeeper Johnny Rodrigues (Barry); and at-large selections Andrew Clare (Tampa) and Stefano Fanfoni (Nova Southeastern).

Barry forward Thomas Coombes received honorable mention.

Voting for the All-SSC Men's Soccer Team was conducted among the league's men's soccer coaches.

A junior from London, Blackwood led the SSC with 32 points, 13 goals and four game-winning goals. His average of 2.0 points per game and 0.81 goals per game were tops in the conference. Blackwood recorded a season-high five points three times during the season in wins over Coker, Eckerd and Nova Southeastern.

The 2012 Freshman of the Year, Walker Hume led Rollins to a 15-game winning streak to begin the season and a No. 1 national ranking before suffering its only loss of the season. Hume anchored the Tars' backline, which allowed, on average, just one goal per game and recorded six shutouts. Offensively, he recorded nine points with four goals and one assist.

In his debut season out of Essex, England, Popo played a key role in Rollins' run to the No. 1 spot in the country. Popo, appearing in all 17 games with 15 starts, scored six goals and tallied four assists for 16 points. Two of his goals were game-winners. He ranked in the top-10 in the SSC in both points and goals.

In his third season as head coach at Saint Leo, Keith Fulk captured the Lions' first SSC regular-season title since 2005 after his squad defeated then undefeated and No. 1 Rollins in the regular-season finale in double overtime. It is Fulk's third Coach of the Year award, but his first while leading Saint Leo. The Lions have worked their way up to No. 7 in the latest NSCAA top-25 and No. 2 in the NCAA South Region.

2013 All-SSC Men's Soccer Team

FIRST TEAM
F - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa (Jr.)
F - Tucker Hume, Rollins (So.)
F - Maximilian Schulz-Geisthovel, Saint Leo (Fr.)
M - Alex Bisbee, Rollins (Sr.)
M - Edgar Herrera, Saint Leo (Sr.)
M - Tosan Popo, Rollins (Fr.)
D - Nicola Brivio, Nova Southeastern (So.)
D - Walker Hume, Rollins (So.)
D - Chris Lavie, Saint Leo (Sr.)
GK - Keneil Baker, Rollins (Sr.)
At-Large - Manuel Schoenhuber, Saint Leo (So.)

Player of the Year - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa
Offensive Player of the Year - Tyler Blackwood, Tampa
Defensive Player of the Year - Walker Hume, Rollins
Freshman of the Year - Tosan Popo, Rollins
Coach of the Year - Keith Fulk, Saint Leo

SECOND TEAM
F - Grant Blackhurst, Rollins (So.)
F - Chris Hellman, Lynn (Fr.)
F - Rafa Faria, Rollins (Sr.)
M - Melvin Agyei Boateng, Saint Leo (Jr.)
M - Luke Jenner, Florida Southern (Sr.)
M - Michael O'Neil, Lynn (Gr.)
D - Javier Lopez Mochon, Lynn (Jr.)
D - Jason Sangha, Lynn (Jr.)
D - Jack Winter, Lynn (Jr.)
GK - Johnny Rodrigues, Barry (Sr.)
At-Large - Andrew Clare, Tampa (Jr.)
At-Large - Stefano Fanfoni, Nova Southeastern (So.)

HONORABLE MENTION
F - Thomas Coombes, Barry (So.)