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University of North Carolina Athletics
Six Tar Heels Named To All-ACC Teams
November 6, 2018 | Men's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Led by Defender of the Year Alex Comsia, North Carolina had six players named on Wednesday as part of the 2018 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Team, as voted on by the league's head coaches. North Carolina led all schools with four players named to the All-ACC First Team and tied a school record with the 2011 National Champion Tar Heels for most players selected to the first team in program history.
Comsia has helped orchestrate a Tar Heel defense that ranks first in the country in goals against average (0.36) having only conceded six goals on the season while being tied for third on the team in minutes played. The senior captain was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List to begin the season and has recently being named a Senior CLASS Award Finalist. Comsia is the third Tar Heels to be named ACC Defender of the Year joining Boyd Okwuono (2013) and Matt Hedges (2011).
Joining Comsia on the first team are Nils Bruening, James Pyle and Mauricio Pineda.
Bruening, a senior midfielder, has had a spectacular season season after missing last year due to injuries. He leads the team in shots and is currently tied for second in goals scored with six, four of those game-winners. The Hamburg, Germany, native has also recorded three assists for third best on the team with 15 points.
Pyle is in the midst of putting together one of the best statistical careers in recent years for a Tar Heel goalkeeper. A Charlotte, N.C., native, currently leads the country in goals against average (0.36) and has more shutouts than any other keeper in the ACC. The seniors career goals against average is 0.55, putting him in striking distance of the all-time record held by Scott Goodwin at 0.54.
Midfielder Mauricio Pineda has been an anchor for the Tar Heel midfield in his third year in Chapel Hill. He is currently fourth on the team in total points (14) with five goals and four assists, the latter tied for first on the team. The Bolingbrook, Illinois, native, is currently tied for third on the team in minutes played.
Sophomore John Nelson was the lone Tar Heel selected to the All-ACC second team after being named to the All-ACC Freshman side last season. Fifth on the team in minutes played, the defender has started all 16 games so far this season and has been a key piece to the nation's top ranked defense while also contributing two assists on the year.
Junior Jack Skahan earned his first All-ACC team nod with a third team selection. Coming on strong the last four games, the forward has recorded six goals and two assists and has contributed on eight of the last 10 goals. The Memphin, Tenn., native leads the team in goals scored with seven and total points at 17.
Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest
Offensive Player of the Year: Omir Fernandez, So., M, Wake Forest
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Comsia, Sr., D, North Carolina
Midfielder of the Year: Bruno Lapa, Jr., M, Wake Forest
Freshman of the Year: Issa Rayyan, Fr., M, Duke
First Team All-ACC
Daniele Proch, Jr., M, Duke
Tate Schmitt, Sr., F, Louisville
Nils Bruening, Sr., F, North Carolina
Alex Comsia, Sr., D, North Carolina
Mauricio Pineda, Jr., M, North Carolina
James Pyle, Sr., GK, North Carolina
David Loera, So., F, NC State
Edward Kizza, So., F, Pittsburgh
Tajon Buchanan , So., F, Syracuse
Omir Fernandez, So., M, Wake Forest
Bruno Lapa, Jr., M, Wake Forest
Second Team All-ACC
Simon Enstrom, Sr., F, Boston College
Will Pulisic, So., GK, Duke
Brandon Williamson, Jr, M., Duke
Issa Rayyan, Fr., M, Duke
Geoffrey Dee, Sr., M, Louisville
John Nelson, So., D, North Carolina
Thomas Ueland, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Patrick Berneski, Gr., D, Notre Dame
Javi Perez, Sr., M, Pittsburgh
Kristo Strickler, So., M, Virginia Tech
Brad Dunwell, Sr., M, Wake Forest
Third Team All-ACC
Ciaran McKenna, Sr., M, Duke
Cherif Dieye, Jr., M, Louisville
Jack Skahan, Jr., M, North Carolina
Manny Perez, So., F, NC State
Tommy McCabe, Jr., M, Notre Dame
Felicien Dumas, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Kamal Miller, Sr, D, Syracuse
Joe Bell, So., M, Virginia
Henry Kessler, So., D, Virginia
Mathijs Swaneveld, So., GK, Virginia Tech
Sam Raben, Sr., D, Wake Forest
All-Freshman Team
Kristofer Konraddson, Fr., M, Boston College
Charlie Asensio, Fr., D, Clemson
Issa Raayan, Fr., M, Duke
Aedan Stanley, Fr., D, Duke
Chandler Vaughn, Fr., D, Pitt
Ryan Raposo, Fr., M, Syracuse
Daryl Dike, Fr., F, Virginia
Cabrel Happi Kamseu, Fr., F, Virginia
Aboubacar Keita, Fr., D, Virginia
Daniel Steedman, Fr., F, Virginia
Aristotle Zarris, Fr., F, Wake Forest
Comsia has helped orchestrate a Tar Heel defense that ranks first in the country in goals against average (0.36) having only conceded six goals on the season while being tied for third on the team in minutes played. The senior captain was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List to begin the season and has recently being named a Senior CLASS Award Finalist. Comsia is the third Tar Heels to be named ACC Defender of the Year joining Boyd Okwuono (2013) and Matt Hedges (2011).
Joining Comsia on the first team are Nils Bruening, James Pyle and Mauricio Pineda.
Bruening, a senior midfielder, has had a spectacular season season after missing last year due to injuries. He leads the team in shots and is currently tied for second in goals scored with six, four of those game-winners. The Hamburg, Germany, native has also recorded three assists for third best on the team with 15 points.
Pyle is in the midst of putting together one of the best statistical careers in recent years for a Tar Heel goalkeeper. A Charlotte, N.C., native, currently leads the country in goals against average (0.36) and has more shutouts than any other keeper in the ACC. The seniors career goals against average is 0.55, putting him in striking distance of the all-time record held by Scott Goodwin at 0.54.
Midfielder Mauricio Pineda has been an anchor for the Tar Heel midfield in his third year in Chapel Hill. He is currently fourth on the team in total points (14) with five goals and four assists, the latter tied for first on the team. The Bolingbrook, Illinois, native, is currently tied for third on the team in minutes played.
Sophomore John Nelson was the lone Tar Heel selected to the All-ACC second team after being named to the All-ACC Freshman side last season. Fifth on the team in minutes played, the defender has started all 16 games so far this season and has been a key piece to the nation's top ranked defense while also contributing two assists on the year.
Junior Jack Skahan earned his first All-ACC team nod with a third team selection. Coming on strong the last four games, the forward has recorded six goals and two assists and has contributed on eight of the last 10 goals. The Memphin, Tenn., native leads the team in goals scored with seven and total points at 17.
Individual Awards
Coach of the Year: Bobby Muuss, Wake Forest
Offensive Player of the Year: Omir Fernandez, So., M, Wake Forest
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Comsia, Sr., D, North Carolina
Midfielder of the Year: Bruno Lapa, Jr., M, Wake Forest
Freshman of the Year: Issa Rayyan, Fr., M, Duke
First Team All-ACC
Daniele Proch, Jr., M, Duke
Tate Schmitt, Sr., F, Louisville
Nils Bruening, Sr., F, North Carolina
Alex Comsia, Sr., D, North Carolina
Mauricio Pineda, Jr., M, North Carolina
James Pyle, Sr., GK, North Carolina
David Loera, So., F, NC State
Edward Kizza, So., F, Pittsburgh
Tajon Buchanan , So., F, Syracuse
Omir Fernandez, So., M, Wake Forest
Bruno Lapa, Jr., M, Wake Forest
Second Team All-ACC
Simon Enstrom, Sr., F, Boston College
Will Pulisic, So., GK, Duke
Brandon Williamson, Jr, M., Duke
Issa Rayyan, Fr., M, Duke
Geoffrey Dee, Sr., M, Louisville
John Nelson, So., D, North Carolina
Thomas Ueland, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Patrick Berneski, Gr., D, Notre Dame
Javi Perez, Sr., M, Pittsburgh
Kristo Strickler, So., M, Virginia Tech
Brad Dunwell, Sr., M, Wake Forest
Third Team All-ACC
Ciaran McKenna, Sr., M, Duke
Cherif Dieye, Jr., M, Louisville
Jack Skahan, Jr., M, North Carolina
Manny Perez, So., F, NC State
Tommy McCabe, Jr., M, Notre Dame
Felicien Dumas, Sr., D, Notre Dame
Kamal Miller, Sr, D, Syracuse
Joe Bell, So., M, Virginia
Henry Kessler, So., D, Virginia
Mathijs Swaneveld, So., GK, Virginia Tech
Sam Raben, Sr., D, Wake Forest
All-Freshman Team
Kristofer Konraddson, Fr., M, Boston College
Charlie Asensio, Fr., D, Clemson
Issa Raayan, Fr., M, Duke
Aedan Stanley, Fr., D, Duke
Chandler Vaughn, Fr., D, Pitt
Ryan Raposo, Fr., M, Syracuse
Daryl Dike, Fr., F, Virginia
Cabrel Happi Kamseu, Fr., F, Virginia
Aboubacar Keita, Fr., D, Virginia
Daniel Steedman, Fr., F, Virginia
Aristotle Zarris, Fr., F, Wake Forest
Players Mentioned
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