Today: Mar 28, 2024

Men’s soccer players earn NE-10 All-Conference honor

Edgar Ayala Sports Writer

Southern’s men’s soccer program is accountable for six players earning Northeast-10 All-Conference honors this season.  

Redshirt senior Tyler Naef, junior Christian Samaniego, sophomores Louis Greenway-Tambini, Chae Brangman and Sean Black, along with freshman Weens Simon have made the All NE-10 Conference Teams.  

“It’s a real honor,” said Samaniego. “Being recognized by the league and other coaches for my hard work and individual performances shows how much of an impact I can bring to the team. This being such a tough conference, it’s always nice to know that you’re considered to be one of the top players.”  

As a junior, this was Samaniego’s first time achieving the honor.  Managing to make the Second-Team All-Conference, and in return, he said it added extra motivation for him to become greater.  

Samaniego finished the season with one goal and seven assists.  The seven assists being a team-high, and tied for fourth in the conference.  

The Owls’ top-scorer, Greenway-Tambini, made First-Team All-Conference.  After a season that saw him notch in 10 goals, and be tied for third in the conference for most goals scored.  

“I felt like I’d make the Second-Team, but when coach told the team I made First-Team All-Conference, it wasn’t a huge surprise,” said Greenway-Tambini.

Team captain, Naef, finished his last year as an Owl with two assists and a member on the Third-Team All-Conference. He accompanies the 2014 NE-10 Rookie of the Year, Brangman, and All-Rookie Team selection, Black, on the Third-Team.  

Brangman concluded the season being the second prolific scorer for Southern.  Recording six goals, while adding two assists on the season.  Black ended the season with two goals and key player in the center back position for the Owls’ defense.  

Fourth-Team honoree, Simon, said it was “exceptional” to be named into the All-Conference teams.  He said even though Southern has individual talent, the team shouldn’t be proud of this accomplishment.  

“Team achievements are more important to us than individual ones,” Simon said.  “We would have felt more accomplished if we made it to the NCAA tournament with no players named on the All-Conference teams.”

The Owls were eliminated in the first round of the NE-10 Tournament, losing to Bentley University 3-2. As well as not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, something the Owls achieved last year under Coach Tom Lang.    

With this in mind, Coach Lang noted it was not their best season, as the team fell short of the season’s expectations of winning the NE-10 Tournament and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.   

Despite the Owls managing to have six players on the All-Conference Team, Coach Lang and the players agreed that this season was “disappointing.”

After making an appearance in the NE-10 final with Southern New Hampshire last year, and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the men’s soccer program failed their objectives this season.  

“The team definitely underachieved this season,” said Greenway-Tambini. “Quarterfinals in the [NE-10] tournament is not something anyone on the team should be happy with. The way we went out was very disappointing, but next year I’m positive we’ll do a lot better.”

Now with the regular season and postseason out of the picture, the Owls now turn their attention on the offseason.  As the Owls look to reflect on the season and on ways to improve next year, in the Fall of 2016.    

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