PITMAN—Ramapo College junior forward Joseph Fala and Rowan University junior back Modou Sowe have been named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year respectively for the 2018 season. In total, 44 student-athletes garnered all-conference recognition in NJAC men’s soccer in 2018. All selections were determined by a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches and were based on conference-only statistics.
A two-time NJAC Offensive Player of the Week honoree this season, Fala tallied a league-leading 22 points in conference play. He also finished the NJAC season as the league-leader in both conference-only goals (10) and conference-only game-winning goals (5).
Sowe was recognized as the league’s top defensive player for the second consecutive season. A two-time NJAC first-team all-conference selection, he anchored a Rowan defense that finished second in the NJAC in conference-only shutouts (4). Sowe also finished tied for ninth in conference-only assists (2).
The College of New Jersey’s senior Nick Sample was selected as the Pat Baldiserra Midfielder of the Year. A two-time NJAC all-conference selection, he finished the NJAC season ranked tied for fifth in conference-only assists (3). Sample also wrapped up league play ranked 18th in conference-only points (21) and 20th in conference-only goals (2).
Rutgers University-Camden senior James Brett was named the NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year for the second time in his career after previously claiming the award in 2016. A four-time NJAC all-conference selection, he wrapped up conference play as the league-leader in both conference-only goals against average (0.75) and conference-only save percentage (.883). A Week 5 NJAC Defensive Player of the Week honoree this season, Brett also finished NJAC play ranked second in conference-only saves (53).
Montclair State University junior midfielder Colin Mulligan was the recipient of the conference’s David Logar Leadership Award. The award is presented annually to the player who best displays the attributes of leadership and courage. Mulligan was a key cog in a MSU squad that produced a league-leading five shutouts during conference play.
Montclair State freshman midfielder Michael Knapp was selected as the NJAC Rookie of the Year. He wrapped up his first NJAC season ranked tied for second in conference-only assists (4). Knapp also finished tied for 28th in conference-only points (4).
MSU head coach Todd Tumelty was tapped as the NJAC Coach of the Year by his peers. He took a Red Hawks squad that did not receive a single first-place vote in the preseason coaches’ poll and guided it to a 15-1-2 overall record and the NJAC regular season title via an 8-0-1 conference mark. In eight seasons at the helm of the MSU program, Tumelty has guided the Red Hawks to an overall record of 135-33-12.