IRVING, Texas – Kentucky leads the way with four specialty award winners and six across the 2018 Men’s Soccer All-Conference Teams. All nine programs are represented across this year’s teams, with several repeat honorees to go along with new faces. Awards are voted on by the conference’s nine head coaches.

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Kentucky’s JJ Williams was named Player of the Year and Offensive MVP and to First Team after his breakout year with the Wildcats. Last season, he was named to All-C-USA Third Team. In 2018, the junior leads the conference with 34 points and 14 total goals to average 0.82 per game. He was named United Soccer Coaches’ Player of the Week once and C-USA Offensive Player of the Week three times this campaign. Williams is second nationally in game-winning goals (7) and fifth in total goals.
 
Earning Defensive MVP is Charlotte’s Callum Montgomery. The senior led a backline that didn’t allow any goals at home this season and posted 12 shutouts total. The conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year also scored two goals and tallied three assists in the regular season. This is his second consecutive year on First Team.
 
For the second year in a row, FIU’s Santiago Patino earned the Golden Boot award for his conference-leading seven goals in league play. The First Team selection stepped up big for the Panthers once again, totaling 12 goals on the season thus far. His consistent performance helped FIU clinch the No. 4 seed in the C-USA Championship and earned him a spot on First Team.
 
The Golden Glove award goes to Charlotte’s Elliot Panicco for his six shutouts in conference games. The goalkeeper leads the conference with a 0.42 goals against average and a 0.885 save percentage. He was part of a 49ers squad that tallied nine home shutouts this season, bringing their home scoreless streak to 890 minutes. He was named to First Team this season, as well.
 
Freshman of the Year honors go to Kentucky’s Jason Reyes due to his selection to Second Team, the highest placement of a freshman this season. The forward started every game for the Wildcats and is tied for sixth in the league with seven goals. Against a top-five Indiana squad, he tallied one goal and one assist.
 
Rounding out the specialty awards is Coach of the Year is Kentucky’s Johan Cedergren. Cedergren has led his team to a 15-1-1 regular season record. A highlight of the season was a win over No. 2 Indiana for the first time since 1995. In conference play, the Wildcats went 7-1 to clinch the regular-season champion title and the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Kentucky also reached a program-high ranking in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll, No. 3.
 
Three more Wildcats were named to First Team – Enrique Facusse, Aimé Mabika and Kalil ElMedkhar.
 
Facusse totaled 12 shutouts overall to lead the conference entering the tournament. The sophomore made 45 saves for an average of 2.65 per game. Last year’s Freshman of the Year continued his success this season, helping the No. 3 Wildcats to the top seed in the tournament.
 
Mabika was also a critical part of the defense that totaled 12 shutouts throughout the season and the team that climbed to the top-five in the United Soccer Coaches’ poll. The redshirt sophomore tallied two goals and an assist in addition to his defensive efforts.
 
ElMedkhar shined for the Wildcats this season, coming in second on the team behind Williams with 24 points off eight goals and eight assists. The sophomore ended the regular season tied for fourth in the conference in total goals and tied for second in total assists.
 
Rounding out the defenders on First Team is New Mexico’s Tom Smart. The redshirt junior is tied for fourth in the league with six assists on the season, averaging 0.83 per game. He led a New Mexico backline that helped the Lobos to the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament.
 
Old Dominion notched two First Team selections – Niko Klosterhalfen and Max Wilschrey.
 
Last campaign, Klosterhalfen was named to Second Team. In 2018, the senior has scored six goals, tied for sixth best in the league. His eight assists are good for second in the conference. His offensive efforts paced the Monarchs to a 6-2 conference record and the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.
 
Wilschrey leads the Monarchs with 11 total goals, ranked third in the conference, and six assists for 28 points. The senior improved on his Third Team selection last season due to his offensive success with the Monarchs. In 2018, he was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week twice.
 
FIU earned another First Team honoree, Joris Ahlinvi. The junior ranks second for the Panthers with 17 points off seven goals and three assists. The 17 points is tied for sixth in the conference. He earned one offensive weekly award from the conference this season and paced FIU to a spot in the conference tournament.
 
Charlotte’s Tommy Madden closes out the First Team honorees. The senior totaled four goals and four assists during the regular-season, to tie for the lead on his team with 12 points. This is his second consecutive year on First Team and he was also a conference Preseason Team selection in 2018.
 
The 2018 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Men’s Soccer Championship begins on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at Charlotte’s Transamerica Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kentucky, Old Dominion, Charlotte, FIU, Marshall, UAB and New Mexico will compete for the tournament champion title in the seven-team, three-day championship. The championship match is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET. All matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
In addition to the specialty awards, the head coaches also selected Second, Third and All-Freshman Teams.
 
2018 C-USA Men’s Soccer Superlative Awards Presented by Ready Nutrition
 
Player of the Year
JJ Williams, Kentucky

Offensive MVP
JJ Williams, Kentucky
 
Defensive MVP
Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
 
Golden Boot Award
Santiago Patino, FIU
 
Golden Glove Award
Elliot Panicco, Charlotte
 
Freshman of the Year
Jason Reyes, Kentucky
 
Coach of the Year
Johan Cedergren, Kentucky
 
All-Conference First Team
GK: Elliot Panicco, Charlotte
GK: Enrique Facusse, Kentucky
D: Callum Montgomery, Charlotte
D: Aimé Mabika, Kentucky
D: Tom Smart, New Mexico
MF: Niko Klosterhalfen, Old Dominion
MF: Joris Ahlinvi, FIU
MF: Kalil ElMedkhar, Kentucky
MF: Tommy Madden, Charlotte
F: Santiago Patino, FIU
F: JJ Williams, Kentucky
F: Max Wilschrey, Old Dominion
 
All-Conference Second Team
GK: Paulo Pita, Marshall
D: Gael Mabiala, UAB
D: Mathieu Laurent, UAB
D: Ryan McLaughlin, Old Dominion
MF: Luca Mayr, South Carolina
MF: Teddy Chaouche, Charlotte
MF: Andrew Booth, FIU
MF: Nick Taylor, New Mexico
MF: Eder Mora, UAB
F: Daniel Bruce, Charlotte
F: Jason Reyes, Kentucky
 
All-Conference Third Team
GK: Mertcan Akar, Old Dominion
D: Mitchell Myers, South Carolina
D: Illal Osmanu, Marshall
D: Billy Jones, New Mexico
D: Carlos Diaz-Salcedo, Marshall
D: Leon Jones, Kentucky
MF: Alonso Coello Camarero, Florida Atlantic
MF: Peyton Ericson, South Carolina
MF: Sebastien Hauret, Old Dominion
MF: Vinicius Fernandes, Marshall
F: Daniel Corona, Old Dominion
F: Omar Grey, New Mexico
 
Conference USA All-Freshmen Team
Delasi Batse, D, Charlotte
Preston Popp, F, Charlotte
Errol Spence, MF, FIU
Alonso Coello Camarero, MF, Florida Atlantic
Jason Reyes, F, Kentucky
Vinicius Fernandes, MF, Marshall
Omar Grey, MF, New Mexico
Erik Virgen, MF, New Mexico
Daniel Corona, F, Old Dominion
Josh Corning, D, South Carolina
Blake White, MF, UAB