Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey men’s soccer team had several players named to the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Men’s Soccer All-Star Team on Thursday, while the head coach of the Lions,
George Nazario was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
The Lions were picked to finish in ninth in the NJAC’s pre-season poll and proceeded to win the NJAC’s regular-season and tournament championships after a 14-2-1 showing. The Lions went 7-2 in the NJAC during the regular-season and earned a bid to the 2005 NCAA Division III Championship and will open their NCA title run on November 12.
Nazario is in his 11th season with the Lions and now sports a career record of 124-73-19, while helping the Lions capture the 1996 NCAA Division III Championship as well as the 1997 NCAA Division III Runner-up title.
TCNJ’s sophomore goalie, Matt Kasperavicius (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) was honored with the newly instituted Goalkeeper of the Year Award. A two-time NJAC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week selection, he currently ranks second in the conference in both goals against average (0.79) and save percentage (.831).
TCNJ senior midfielder Matthew Connor (Wayne, NJ/DePaul Catholic) was named the recipient of the conference’s David Logar Award, given annually to a player who best displays the attributes of leadership and courage. On the 2005 season, Connor added 18 points on seven goals and four assists. Overall on his career, the Lions’ co-captain now has 11 goals, six assists and 28 points.
Earning a spot on the 2005 NJAC All-Star First Team from TCNJ were sophomores Matt Luber (Delran, NJ/Delran), Joseph McGinley (Cranford, NJ/Cranford), as well as Kasperavicius. Second Team honorees include TCNJ’s junior forward Tim Dudek (Medford, NJ/Bishop Eustace), and seniors Jeff Lageman (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) and Connor.
Luber currently leads the Lions in scoring with 23 points on nine goals and five assists. He has added five game-winning goals, including the goal to capture the 2005 NJAC Championship title. Luber now has 27 career points on 10 goals and seven assists. This week’s NJAC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week, Luber has six career game-winners.
McGinley, a one-time NJAC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week selection this fall, currently has 11 points from his midfield position on two goals and seven assists. During his career, he has added three goals and eight assists for 14 points in 33 games played.
Dudek has a career-best 22 points this season on nine goals and four assists and has five game-winning goals. The junior forward has 11 goals with five assists and 27 points. He was an NJAC honorable mention honoree in 2003.
Lageman, the Lions’ 2005 co-captain, is a 17-game starter for TCNJ in the backfield and has a pair of assists this year. A 2004 NJAC Honorable Mention honoree as a junior, Lageman has played in 72 games for the Lions during his career.