Charlotte 49ers sweep men’s soccer awards in Conferernce USA
Members of the fifth-ranked Conference USA regular-season champion Charlotte 49ers men’s soccer team collected all seven Conference USA superlative awards, the first team to do that the league’s 22-year history.
Charlotte has five players on All-Conference USA squads and earned two spots on the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
Kevin Langan was named Conference USA Coach of the Year after leading the 49ers to the regular-season title and 12 wins, including 7-1 in conference play. Langan is the fourth coach in Charlotte’s history to claim the award.
“The coaching award is for the entire coaching staff - for Kyle (Gookins), Jason (Osborne), Tom (Beckvermit) and Brian (Edwards),” Langan said.
Charlotte midfielder Brandt Bronico was named Conference USA Player of the Year and Offensive MVP in addition to claiming a spot on the all-conference USA first-team. Bronico won the Golden Boot Award, given to the league’s top scorer. He scored eight goals in conference play, including four game-winners, with the help of teammates, including Daniel Bruce, Callum Montgomery, Marco Sunol-Rojas, Tommy Madden, Zhuvonte Wilson and Harrison Steadman.
Bronico also led Conference USA in points (21) and finished fourth in assists (5). He is a three-time first-team All-Conference USA selection. This is the third straight season a 49ers player has been Conference USA Offensive MVP since Kyle Parker claimed the honor in 2014 and 2015.
Senior standout defender Luke Waechter was named Conference USA Defensive MVP and earned a place on the All-Conference USA first-team. A captain, he helped anchor a nationally recognized defense. Along with All-Conference USA First-Team defender senior Matej Dekovic, Montgomery and Sean Bowman, the 49ers defense boasts an NCAA-leading .42 goals against average. Dekovic made third-team All-Conference USA last season.
Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco was named Freshman of the Year and received the Golden Glove Award. He has recorded 10 shutouts and only allowed seven goals this season. Panicco was also named first-team All-Conference USA and to the Conference USA All-Freshman team.
2016 C-USA MEN’S SOCCER AWARDS
Player of the Year
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
Offensive MVP
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
Defensive MVP
Luke Waechter, D, Charlotte
Freshman of the Year
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
Golden Boot Award
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
Golden Glove Award
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
Coach of the Year
Kevin Langan, Charlotte
All-Conference First Team
F: Santiago Patino, FIU
F: Niko Hansen, New Mexico
F: Danny Deakin, South Carolina
MF: Brandt Bronico, Charlotte
MF: Paul Marie, FIU
MF: Napo Matsoso, Kentucky
MF: Chris Wehan, New Mexico
D: Matej Dekovic, Charlotte
D: Luke Waechter, Charlotte
D: Jordan Wilson, Kentucky
GK: Elliot Panicco, Charlotte
All-Conference Second Team
F: Luis Betancur, FIU
F: Jason Fitzgerald, Florida Atlantic
F: Bjorn Gudjonsson, South Carolina
MF: Trevor Starcher, Marshall
MF: Jesse Miralrio, Old Dominion
MF: Cole Stringer, Old Dominion
MF: Kurtis Turner, South Carolina
MF: David Valverde, UAB
D: Charlie Reymann, Kentucky
D: Tom Smart, New Mexico
GK: Joe Kuzminsky, UAB
All-Conference Third Team
MF: Maxi Rodriguez, Charlotte
MF: Donald Tomlinson, FIU
MF: Chris Gurule, New Mexico
MF: Niko Klosterhalfen, Old Dominion
MF: Julian Veen Uldal, South Carolina
MF: Koty Millard, South Carolina
D: Juan Benedetty, FIU
D: Alex Bumpus, Kentucky
D: Arthur Duchesne, Marshall
D: Peyton Ericson, South Carolina
D: Ive Burnett, South Carolina
D: William White, UAB
GK: William Pyle, South Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
Ryan Spaulding, MF, Charlotte
David Longo, D, FIU
Joris Ahlinvi, F, FIU
JJ Williams, F, Kentucky
Connor Probert, F, Kentucky
Tom Smart, D, New Mexico
Matt Constant, D, New Mexico
Sebastian Hauret, MF, Old Dominion
Julian Veen Uldal, MF, South Carolina
Luca Mayr, F, South Carolina
Eder Mora, MF, UAB
Massimo Ferrin, F, UAB
This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Charlotte 49ers sweep men’s soccer awards in Conferernce USA."