FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer had 12 players named to the 2016 All-MIAA Team, released on Tuesday (Nov. 8). The Tigers have seven first team selections, four second team selections, and one honorable mention selection on this year’s team. Luis Mendez was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year.
Earning unanimous first team selections for the Tigers were forwards Maurizio Costa and Mauricio Castorino. They were the only players other than MIAA Player of the Year Xhovani Dokaj, forward from Lindenwood, to receive unanimous selections. Joining both on the first team are goalkeeper Michael Yantz, defenders Luis Torres and Drew Wilson, and midfielders Derick Gonzalez and Luis Mendez.
Second team selections went to defenders Sergio Villalba and Killian Gorman, midfielder Tobias Patino, and forward Michael Cole. Arsenio Chamorro earned an honorable mention selection.
Costa, a senior, earns All-MIAA First Team honors for the second straight year. He leads the Tigers in points with 24, entering the NCAA Tournament with eight goals and eight assists. He ranks second in the MIAA in points and is tied for third in total goals and assists. He was an all-region first team selection last year.
Castorino, a junior, is now a three-time All-MIAA selection, now a first team selection the last two years after a second team selection in 2014. Castorino was the MIAA Player of the Year and the D2CCA Region Player last year and the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2014. He has put up solid numbers once again this year with five goals and 10 assists. He is tied for the MIAA and region lead in assists. He ranks fourth in the conference and third on the team in points with 20 for the season.
Yantz, a junior, shares first team honors at goalkeeper with Aleksa Nenadic of Lindenwood. Yantz ranks second in the MIAA in goals against average (1.21) and shutouts (3). He has a .737 save percentage for the season. He has a record of 7-4-1 for the season. He is now a two-time All-MIAA selection after second team honors last year.
Torres, a sophomore, picks up the first all-conference honor of his career with first team honors this season. Torres has been one of the top scoring defenders in the MIAA with seven goals this season, which is tied for third-most on the team and fifth in the MIAA. He leads the team in minutes played (1,536) and has helped the team to five shutouts this season.
Wilson, a senior, earns his second All-MIAA honor by grabbing first team honors this year after an honorable mention selection in 2014. With 1,294 minutes played this season, he has also helped produce on the offensive end lending five assists for the year which ties for seventh in the MIAA.
Gonzalez, a junior, has been a key addition to the offense this year at forward after transferring from San Jacinto (Texas) College. He leads the team in goals with 10, the only player in the MIAA other than Lindenwood’s Dokaj to have double figures in goals this year. By adding two assists, his 22 points for the season ranks third in the MIAA. He is tied with Costa for the team lead in game-winning goals (3) as they are tied for second in the conference in that category.
Mendez, the MIAA Freshman of the Year, has put together a solid first year with the Tigers. He ranks fourth on the team in points with 15, producing seven goals and one assist. He is tied for third on the team in goals and that ties for fifth most in the MIAA. Mendez is tied for seventh in the MIAA in points. Mendez is the third FHSU player to earn the MIAA Freshman of the Year honor, joining Jason Babyak (2013) and Castorino (2014).
Villalba, a redshirt-freshman, earns second team honors this year. He has started all 18 matches at defender this year and has played 1,494 minutes. He has one goal to his credit this season.
Gorman, a junior, is now a two-time All-MIAA selection receiving second team honors this year. He was a conference and region first team selection last year. He ranks second on the team in minutes played this year with 1,516. He has helped the team to five shutouts and limit opponents to just 1.02 goals per game.
Patino, a redshirt-sophomore, gets the first all-conference nod of his career earning second team this year. The midfielder has four points this year with a goal and two assists while playing 1,059 minutes.
Cole, a redshirt-senior, is now a four-time All-MIAA selection with second team honors this year. After sitting out last season, he has 15 points this season with five goals and five assists. He is tied for eighth in the MIAA in points and tied for sixth in assists. Cole was a first team all-conference selection in 2014, a second team selection in 2012, and an honorable mention selection in 2013. He is also a three-time all-region selection, earning first team honors in 2014.
Chamorro, a redshirt freshman, earned an honorable mention selection this year. He has eight points with one goal and six assists. He ranks fifth in the MIAA in assists.
Below is the 2016 All-MIAA Men’s Soccer Team.
2016 ALL-MIAA SOCCER TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Xhovani Dokaj, F, Lindenwood
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Luis Mendez, MF, Fort Hays State
COACH OF THE YEAR
Carl Hutter, Lindenwood
FIRST TEAM
GK: Aleksa Nenadic, So., Lindenwood
GK: Michael Yantz, Jr., Fort Hays State
D: Luis Torres, So., Fort Hays State
D: Drew Wilson, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Stefan Andric, Jr., Lindenwood
D: Jeremy Tutas, Jr., Lindenwood
D: Jose Sanchez, Sr., Lindenwood
D: Hugo Alves, Sr., Upper Iowa
MF: Derick Gonzalez, Jr., Fort Hays State
MF: Luis Mendez, Fr., Fort Hays State
MF: Kyle Weinrich, So., Lindenwood
MF: Nicolas Kondic, So., Lindenwood
MF: Trevor Reed, Jr., Northeastern State
MF: Joseph Garcia, So., Northeastern State
F: Mauricio Castorino, Jr., Fort Hays State**
F: Maurizio Costa, Jr., Fort Hays State**
F: Xhovani Dokaj, Sr., Lindenwood**
F: Blair Lyons, So., Upper Iowa
Results reflect ties in the voting
**Unanimous Selection
SECOND TEAM
GK: Connor Rortvedt, Jr, Upper Iowa
D: Sergio Villalba, Fr., Fort Hays State
D: Killian Gorman, Jr., Fort Hays State
D: Andrew Galvon, Fr., Northeastern State
D: Logan Dahnert, Jr., Upper Iowa
MF: Tobias Patino, So., Fort Hays State
MF: Ryan Butchart, Jr., Lindenwood
MF: Garrett Gibson, Sr., Southwest Baptist
MF: Dominic Boland, So., Upper Iowa
MF: Fausto Ordenana, Sr., Upper Iowa
F: Michael Cole, Sr., Fort Hays State
F: Thomas Hutcheson, So., Lindenwood
F: Nijaz Muratovic, Sr., Lindenwood
F: Ryan Pinkerton, Sr., Upper Iowa
Results reflect ties in the voting
HONORABLE MENTION
Fort Hays State: Arsenio Chamorro, F
Northeastern State: Aaron Ugbah, F
Upper Iowa: Seth Russell, D