LOUISVILLE, Ky -- Bellarmine University's Ross Hopkins was voted to the third team of the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men's Soccer All-America Team announced earlier today. The team is voted on by members of the Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Hopkins, a junior midfielder, will go down in the Bellarmine history books as being the first Bellarmine soccer player to make a non-academic All-America team.
This season Hopkins led Bellarmine in practically all offensive categories--goals (11), assists (8), and game-winning goals (4), and helped get a young Bellarmine team into the conference post-season tournament. Earlier this season he was named first team, All Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Senior forward Sam Charles of Montana State University-Billings headlined the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Men's Soccer All-America First Team as the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year.
Charles, of Chiswell, England, broke the school and conference record with 24 goals in 2009. The Daktronics West Region Player of the Year finished his career with 69 goals and 156 points.
Junior forward Steve Beattie of Northern Kentucky University and senior defender Kevin Gallaugher of Cal State University Dominguez Hills are repeat first team selections. Beattie, the 2008 Daktronics Player of the Year, posted 19 goals and 44 points for the Norse in 2009. Gallaugher, who helped lead the Toros to the Division II championship last year, is a three-time Daktronics All-American honoree.
Senior Sargbah Tarpeh of Wilmington (Del.) University and freshman Kyle Ciliento of Grand Canyon (Ariz.) University are the other two first team forwards. Tarpeh, the Daktronics East Region Player of the Year, collected 21 goals. Ciliento, the Pacific West Player of the Year, finished with 23 goals.
Junior Tom Settle of national semifinalist Fort Lewis (Colo.) University leads the list of first team midfielders. Junior Rhys Cannella of Tiffin (Ohio) University, senior Jon Gruenewald of Rollins (Fla.) University and junior Luke Mulholland of Wingate (N.C.) University round out the other midfielders.
The remaining first team defenders are senior Dan Ingvarsson of Tampa (Fla.) University, senior Richard Kentish of Southern New Hampshire University and sophomore Nicki Nielson of West Texas A&M University.
Senior Raul Herrera of Midwestern State (Texas) University is the first team goalkeeper. He led Division II keepers with a 0.30 goals against average while only allowing five goals in 16 games.
Sports information directors from NCAA Division II schools and conferences sponsoring men's soccer selected the Daktronics All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first team All-Region picks advancing to the national ballot. This is the fourth year Daktronics has sponsored the NCAA Division II men's soccer All-America and All-Region teams.
Daktronics All-America Team
