NSCAA All-Region Teams |
Messiah's All-Time Mid-Atlantic All-Region HonorsKansas City, KS - Messiah College men's soccer players
Jeremy Payne,
Brian Ramirez,
Carter Robbins,
Jack Thompson, and
Danny Brandt were honored by the NSCAA this week, as each was named All Mid-Atlantic Region. This marks the second time in three seasons Messiah has garnered at least five All-Region selections.
The honor for Payne, Robbins, and Thompson is their third in as many seasons, while Ramirez received the nod for the second time in the past three years. Brandt's selection is the first of his career.
Payne led the Falcons with career-best numbers in goals (21) and points (52). He also tied his career-high with 10 assists, good for third on the team. In impressive fashion, Payne's 21 goals were four more than his previous high (set in both 2012 and 2013) and accomplished on just 87 shots-- 11 less than he took last season. Seven of his tallies were game-winners this season, and this year he was named the Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year for the third time in as many years.
Robbins has played as arguably the best centerback in the nation for three seasons, and this year he helped Messiah collect a nation-leading 0.30 goals against average. He also led a defense that picked up 18 shutouts, the second-most in program history (19, 2002). This season he also picked up his second-straight Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year award.
Ramirez is possibly the most unsung hero of the Falcons' success on both sides of the ball. Relentless in the midfield, Ramirez contributed two goals and a career-high 11 assists this season, and has garnered a reputation as one of the most dynamic two-way players in the nation. Like Payne, Robbins, and Thompson, Ramirez is a three-time All-Commonwealth player.
Thompson, the fourth senior to make the All-Region teams, led Messiah with 13 assists while becoming the program's all-time assist leader (50). This season he matched a career-high with 10 goals, with four game-winners.
As mentioned, Brandt picked up the honor for the first time his career. He matched last season's points total (18) by way of seven goals and four assists from the midfield position.
This season the Falcons finished 21-1-1, with their lone loss coming by a 1-0 score in the Sectional Final against eventual National Champion Tufts University. Despite seeing their two-year run as National Champions come to an end, this year's team finished a four-year run with a record of 86-3-5 (.941).
