The SU men's soccer team gathered for its annual end-of-season banquet Saturday, Dec. 7
Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Men's Soccer Announces Award Winners
12/10/2013 11:08:00 AM | Men's Soccer
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Five members of the Syracuse University men's soccer team were honored at the team's annual end-of-season banquet at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in East Syracuse on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Head coach Ian McIntyre spoke with members of the SU men's soccer community, while student-athletes and friends of the program enjoyed a buffet lunch and a season highlight video. The event capped SU's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference as the Orange finished with a 10-7-1 record and placed 10th in the league standings with a 3-7-1 conference mark.
As voted by members of the team, Emil Ekblom earned the squad's MVP honors. He also garnered the Golden Boot Award, which is awarded to the team's leading goal-scorer.
Ekblom led the squad and finished in third in the league in points (23) and goals (10). Ekblom posted SU's first hat trick since 2008 and set an SU Soccer Stadium record with seven points (three goals, one assist) against NC State on Oct. 4. Following his performance against the Wolfpack, he was named the Disney Soccer/NSCAA Division I Men's Player of the Week and the ECAC co-Offensive Player of the Week. He also earned spots on the TopDrawerSoccer.com and College Soccer News National Teams of the Week. Ekblom's 10 goals were the third-most by an SU freshman in program history and he was the first double-digit Orange goal-scorer since Hansen Woodruff (10 goals) in 2007.
The Rookie of the Year award was given to Alex Halis. The Brampton, Ontario, Canada native also had a productive first year at Syracuse. He was second on the team with 13 points on six goals and one assist. His four game-winning tallies was tied for second in the ACC. Halis was also ranked fifth on TopDrawerSoccer's midseason list of the Top 100 Freshmen. He tallied a career-high five points (two goals, one assist) in SU's victory against Manhattan on Sept. 9.
Redshirt sophomore Brandon Albert earned the Most Improved Player award. Albert made his first career starts during the 2013 campaign, appearing in the starting line-up in 14 contests. He started and played every minute in shutouts of No. 12 Connecticut, UMass and Pittsburgh. He helped anchor a backline that helped SU record eight total shutouts, which is tied for seventh-most in program history.
Jordan Murrell took home the Men's Soccer Coaches' Award that recognizes the individual that best personifies courage, desire, humility and an unselfish devotion to his teammates. Murrell led the squad with six assists, while playing and starting in all but one contest during the 2013 season. He assisted on Alex Halis' game-winning goal at Colgate on Aug. 30. The Markham, Ontario, Canada native tied his career high with two assists, both on set pieces, against UMass on Sept. 25.
For the second time in three years, Matt Stith garnered the Dean Foti Award which is given annually to the student-athlete with the most positive influence on the team's attitude. Stith's motivational speeches before and during matches serve to energize the squad, while his support on and off of the field are instrumental to the team's successes.
Ekblom, Halis, Albert, Murrell and Stith all return for the Orange for the 2014 season. Syracuse brings everyone on its roster who logged minutes in 2013.
Head coach Ian McIntyre spoke with members of the SU men's soccer community, while student-athletes and friends of the program enjoyed a buffet lunch and a season highlight video. The event capped SU's first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference as the Orange finished with a 10-7-1 record and placed 10th in the league standings with a 3-7-1 conference mark.
As voted by members of the team, Emil Ekblom earned the squad's MVP honors. He also garnered the Golden Boot Award, which is awarded to the team's leading goal-scorer.
Ekblom led the squad and finished in third in the league in points (23) and goals (10). Ekblom posted SU's first hat trick since 2008 and set an SU Soccer Stadium record with seven points (three goals, one assist) against NC State on Oct. 4. Following his performance against the Wolfpack, he was named the Disney Soccer/NSCAA Division I Men's Player of the Week and the ECAC co-Offensive Player of the Week. He also earned spots on the TopDrawerSoccer.com and College Soccer News National Teams of the Week. Ekblom's 10 goals were the third-most by an SU freshman in program history and he was the first double-digit Orange goal-scorer since Hansen Woodruff (10 goals) in 2007.
The Rookie of the Year award was given to Alex Halis. The Brampton, Ontario, Canada native also had a productive first year at Syracuse. He was second on the team with 13 points on six goals and one assist. His four game-winning tallies was tied for second in the ACC. Halis was also ranked fifth on TopDrawerSoccer's midseason list of the Top 100 Freshmen. He tallied a career-high five points (two goals, one assist) in SU's victory against Manhattan on Sept. 9.
Redshirt sophomore Brandon Albert earned the Most Improved Player award. Albert made his first career starts during the 2013 campaign, appearing in the starting line-up in 14 contests. He started and played every minute in shutouts of No. 12 Connecticut, UMass and Pittsburgh. He helped anchor a backline that helped SU record eight total shutouts, which is tied for seventh-most in program history.
Jordan Murrell took home the Men's Soccer Coaches' Award that recognizes the individual that best personifies courage, desire, humility and an unselfish devotion to his teammates. Murrell led the squad with six assists, while playing and starting in all but one contest during the 2013 season. He assisted on Alex Halis' game-winning goal at Colgate on Aug. 30. The Markham, Ontario, Canada native tied his career high with two assists, both on set pieces, against UMass on Sept. 25.
For the second time in three years, Matt Stith garnered the Dean Foti Award which is given annually to the student-athlete with the most positive influence on the team's attitude. Stith's motivational speeches before and during matches serve to energize the squad, while his support on and off of the field are instrumental to the team's successes.
Ekblom, Halis, Albert, Murrell and Stith all return for the Orange for the 2014 season. Syracuse brings everyone on its roster who logged minutes in 2013.
Post-Match Interview | Syracuse vs. Hofstra
Friday, November 21
Syracuse Men's Soccer Postgame Show
Thursday, November 20
Syracuse Men's Soccer
Thursday, November 20
Syracuse Men's Soccer Pregame Show
Thursday, November 20
