2012 NSCAA Mid-Atlantic All-Region
Kansas City, KS – The best team in the nation was honored in a special way on Thursday, as five Falcons were named Mid-Atlantic All-Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Jeremy Payne,
Brian Ramirez,
Carter Robbins, and
Jack Thompson were named to the First Team, with
Brandon West elected to the Second Team. All five players are sophomores for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Champions.
Thompson is the only repeat honoree in the group, as he was named Third Team All-Region in his rookie campaign last season. Thompson's 12 assists led the Falcons season, as the total also placed him fifth in the nation. He was also one of four Messiah players to score at least 10 goals, as his 32 total points tied him for second on the team. He also tied Payne and
Joshua Wood for the team lead in game-winning goals with four.
Robbins' All-Region honor stems from his stellar play in the Falcons' back row. His reliable defense and leadership contributed to Messiah allowing just nine goals this season and finishing second in the nation with a 0.35 goals against average. Also named First Team All-Commonwealth this season, Robbins' talents were evident in his goal-scoring header off a corner kick in the
National Final against Ohio Northern.
For Payne and Ramirez, the All-Region honors follow
their election to the NSCAA All-American teams from earlier this week. Payne was named the 2012 Commonwealth Player of the Year and led Messiah in goals (17), while his team-leading 44 points placed him eleventh in the nation. Ramirez collected seven goals and 10 assists this season, and was also named First Team All-Commonwealth for the first time in his career. He scored the game-winner in
Messiah's sixth-straight Commonwealth Championship victory, and also showed off his highly regarded free-kick skills with a goal against Ohio Northern in the National Title game.
For West, his Second Team honor is Messiah's first All-Region election for a goalkeeper since Dustin Shambach in 2006. West started all 25 games for the Falcons this season, finishing second in the nation with a 0.305 goals against average and twelfth in the nation with a 0.87 save percentage. While proving to be one of the most complete keepers in the game, West's season may always be defined by his two saves in
Messiah's 4-2 penalty kick decision over York in the NCAA Sectional Semifinal.
