LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - In exclusive voting by the league's head men's soccer coaches, Matt Fechter of Colorado College and Evan Perkins of Southwestern University were selected SCAC Offensive Co-Players-of-the-Year while Nick Lammers of Colorado College was voted SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
Perkins, a senior forward from Keller, Texas, finished with 15 goals on the season, placing him second in the SCAC in the category. He was also tied for third in assists with eight and posted 38 points on the year, the most by a Southwestern player in the history of the school. Perkins scored three game winners this season including in the 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Centenary College in the SCAC tournament as the Pirates advanced all the way to the finals before falling to Trinity to finish in second. This is Perkins' fourth selection to the All-SCAC team. He was a Third Team pick in 2009 and 2010 and Second Team 2011. He is the first Southwestern player to earn the Player-of-the-Year honor.
Joining Perkins on the First Team are junior defender Matthew Nickell and junior midfielder Steven Resnik.
Nickell was a constant on the defensive line for the Pirates, starting every contest this season, and playing nearly every minute on the field. As the season progressed, Nickell expanded his game beyond destroying opposing teams' attacks to also jump starting SU's offense. He scored two goals on the year, including the game winner against UC Santa Cruz, on just seven shots and assisted on two others for six points.
Resnik was often the go-to man to get the Pirate offense going, using his speed to slash through defenders. He appeared in all 23 games this season, starting 22 times, and was third on the team in assists with seven. Resnik also added in two goals, including the game-winner against Hardin-Simmons where he scored both goals for the Pirates.
Three Pirates earned Second Team All-SCAC honors in the report. Senior defender Forrest Baker, junior midfielder Timothy Eamma and junior midfielder Zack Faulkner were named for their outstanding play this season.
Baker started all 23 contests for Southwestern's defense that allowed just 30 goals on the season and held teams to a .086 shot percentage. He scored one goal and posted two assists for four points. Seven on his 14 shots were on goal for a .500 shots on goal percentage.
Eamma was a strong presence in the midfield for SU and ended the season as the third highest point getter on the team with 13 points. He posted four goals and five assists this season with two game-winning goals.
Faulkner served as the other attacking point for Southwestern, balancing out Resnik on the other side of the field. He was tied for first on the team in assists, posting eight on the year, and added two goals while starting all 23 games.
Six players ties the most Pirates named to the All-SCAC. Southwestern also placed six in the report in 2008 and 2006.
Southwestern closed out the season with a second place finish at the SCAC Conference Tournament and were 13-8-2 overall on the year.