Bears Soccer Produces Four AD3I All-Independent Team Selections

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Association of Division III Independents (AD3I) announced the 2012 Men's Soccer All-Independent Teams and four Bears received recogition, highlighted by Raul Urshela who was selected First-Team All-Independent.

Sophomore Michael Miner (Schenevus, NY/Schenevus), sophomore Deleon Johnson (Toronto, Canada/Roosevelt HS) and freshman Matthew O'Neill (Brooklyn, NY/St. Edmund Prep) each garnered second-team honors for the second-year varsity squad that currently has a program-best three wins.

Urshela, who was selected AD3I Rookie of the Year last season, is named to the first team for the second straight year. The sophomore forward scored a team-leading seven goals, sharing the lead with O'Neill, also scoring one game-winning and one game-tying goal. Urshela started in all 11 games played and was named AD3I Player of the Week on October 28th.

Miner, an honorable mention last season, was ranked fourth in the NCAA in saves per game (10.1) and 44th in total saves (101). The sophomore goaltender made a season-high 16 saves against Berkeley.

Johnson was a key rookie addition to the Bears' back line, helping the team reduce their goals against average to 4.58 from 7.15 last season. The rookie sophomore defender started in all 12 games and was responsible for taking most of the throw-ins and corner kicks. Johnson's two goals ranks tied for second-best on the team and he also added two assists.

O'Neill was an important addition to the Bears' offense as an attacking midfielder, sharing the team lead in goals (7) with Urshela, which includes one game-winner. The freshman earned AD3I Player of the Week honors after scoring his first career hat-trick in a win over Vaughn.

The Bears (3-9) conclude their 2012 campaign on Sunday, November 11th facing Yeshiva University in a non-conference game at Tibbetts Brook Park starting at 5:30 p.m.

# # #

First Team
Forward – Colby Twist, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Forward – Raul Urshela, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
Forward – (tie) Kyle Jisa, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University, and Zach Hummel, Sophomore, University of California, Santa Cruz
Midfielder – Will Pasquin, Freshman, Finlandia University
Midfielder – DJ Fuller, Sophomore, University of California, Santa Cruz
Midfielder – Jeremy Tarr, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Midfielder – Stephen Boakye, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Defender – Wayne Castillo, Freshman, Finlandia University
Defender – Sean Sprague, Sophomore, University of California, Santa Cruz
Defender – Matt Woodman, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Goalkeeper – Joshua MacKinnon, Senior, University of Maine-Presque Isle 

Second Team
Forward – Adam Arthur, Senior, Finlandia University
Midfielder – Matthew O'Neill, Freshman, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
Midfielder – AJ Johnson, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Midfielder – Joe Platten, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Midfielder – Wesley Smith, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Defender – Deleon Johnson, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)
Defender – Lucas Bartlett, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Defender – Nick Palacio, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Defender – Zach Mergens, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Goalkeeper – Michael Miner, Sophomore, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn)