WATERVILLE, Maine - Eight SUNY Poly men's soccer players received ten different North Atlantic Conference (NAC) All-Conference awards this season, highlighting what has been an incredible season for the Wildcats.
Wakeley Banker was Voted the NAC's Defensive Player of the Year, A First Team All-Conference Selection, and the Wildcats representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team. The excerpt below is from the NAC release for the 2021 All-Conference awards.
"The 2021 NAC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year is Wakeley Banker of SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Banker anchored the Wildcats' defense that logged a whopping 14 shutouts this fall, including 7 out of 9 NAC games. Poly allowed only 13 goals (.66 GAA) total and only four goals (.42 GAA) in conference contests. The All-Conference First Team defender is also an offensive threat, scoring 12 goals for 24 points on the season - both second-best in the NAC. Banker was called on to take four penalty kicks and scored on each opportunity. He collected NAC Player of the Week and NAC Men's Soccer Sportsmanship Team honors. Banker and the Wildcats have home-field advantage for the NAC championship match this weekend."
Coach Peterson Jerome was voted the NAC Coach of the Year by his peers after leading the Wildcats to one of their all-time greatest seasons. The excerpt below is from the NAC release for the 2021 All-Conference awards.
"Peterson Jerome is the NAC 2021 Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. Coach Pete led his team to an undefeated divisional record of 5-0 and no conference losses at 7-0-2. The squad is 14-2-3 overall, including two postseason games so far. The Wildcats scored 57 goals (3.00 GFA) and only allowed 13. Led by Defensive Player of the Year Wakeley Banker, his defense boasts a 0.66 goals-against average with 64 saves and 14 shutouts on the season. Jerome and company will host the league championship game against UMaine-Farmington this Saturday for a berth in the NCAA tournament in Poly's first year in the NAC."
The Wildcats had three NAC First Team All-Conference award winners.
Noah Fagnani was a First Team Forward after a 22 point season where he scored 11 goals for the Wildcats
Abus Mohamed-Ali was a NAC First Team All-Conference Midfielder. He scored four goals and had six assists for SUNY Poly.
Wakeley Banker was a NAC First Team All-Conference Defender and was the NAC Defensive Player of the Year and SUNY Polys representative on the NAC Sportsmanship Team.
Edgar Gomez scored six goals for the Wildcats en route to a NAC Second Team All-Conference selection.
Peyton Bennett led the Wildcats in assists in 2021 with 10 to earn a NAC Second Team All-Conference nod.
James D'Alessio was great in goal for the Wildcats before injury cut his season short. His efforts were still enough to earn a spot on the NAC All-Conference Second Team.
Chase Coluccio wrapped up the All-Conference selections with an Honorable Mention after a fantastic season in goal where he earned nine wins and allowed just 14 goals in 15 appearances.
To view the NAC's All-Conference and Individual Award release for the 2021 season, CLICK HERE.
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