William M. Moore, Commissioner

Office Phone:  860-677-1269

FAX:  860-674-8363

Mike Christie, Director of Communications

Office Phone:  401-456-1952

FAX:  401-456-8180

For immediate Release           November 8, 2004

2004 Little East Conference Men’s Soccer Awards

Offensive Player of the Year — Kyle Teixeira, Rhode Island College

Defensive Player of the Year — Jim Hogan, Keene State College

Rookie of the Year — Jay Barney, Eastern Connecticut State University

Coach of the Year — Eric Miller, University of Southern Maine

            PROVIDENCE, RI  —  Rhode Island College junior forward Kyle Teixeira (Warren, RI) received Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors, Keene State College senior back Jim Hogan (Holderness, NH) was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Eastern Connecticut State University freshman goalkeeper Jay Barney (Mansfield, CT) earned Rookie of the Year accolades and Head Coach Eric Miller of University of Southern Maine was cited as the league’s Coach of the Year to highlight the league's annual list of award winners.

Teixeira earns his second Offensive Player of the Year award in three years as the junior led the league in scoring with 21 goals and 47 points. Teixeira set a new school record for goals in a career with 63. He helped lead the Anchormen to their best performance in conference tournament history as they made it all the way to the championship game, but fell to top-seeded Keene State, 3-1. Teixeira now has 142 career points in three seasons as an Anchorman and needs just five points to break RIC’s all-time point scoring record.

Hogan anchored a Keene State defense which allowed just nine goals in conference play, en route to an undefeated LEC season. The Owls transferred that success into the post-season where they captured the LEC Tournament Championship. For his efforts in tournament play, Hogan was named Most Outstanding Player. Along with his play in the back, Hogan assisted on two Owl goals this fall.

            A two-time recipient of the league’s Rookie of the Week Award, Barney finished atop the league in saves, 99, save percentage, .832, and shutouts, 8. After a slow start, Barney and the Warriors rallied to land a fourth place finish in the conference and a birth in the LEC Tournament.

            Joining Teixeira on the All-Conference First Team at forward are Keene State College senior Casey Banks (Westborough, MA) and University of Southern Maine senior Andrew Baudelman (Rochester, NH).

            The First Team midfield features a pair from Keene State College, senior John Harke (Leeds, MA) and sophomore Erik Scott (West Springfield, MA), along with Plymouth State University senior Sebastian Rodriguez (San Jose, COSTA RICA) and University of Southern Maine senior Zach Rossignol (Portland, ME).

            Along with Hogan, the First Team defensive backfield showcases Plymouth State University sophomore Bryan Biederman (Holderness, NH), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth senior Elton Livramento (New Bedford, MA), Western Connecticut State University senior Arlindo Dossantos (Bridgeport, CT) and Plymouth State University goalkeeper Dan Custance (Holderness, NH).

            Earning Second Team All-Conference honors at forward are Keene State College senior Jason Lombardo (Woburn, MA), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth junior Tiago Pinto (New Bedford, MA) and Western Connecticut State University sophomore Brad Fidler (Morgantown, PA).

            The Second Team midfield features Eastern Connecticut State University senior Zac Griffin (Manchester, CT), Plymouth State University junior Steve Balgach (Fairfield, CT), and a pair form Western Connecticut State University, senior Mario Carvajal (Norwalk, CT) and junior Matt Cusack (New Milford, CT).

The Second Team defensive backs are a pair of sophomores from Eastern Connecticut State University in Matt Fitzgerald (Malborough, CT) and Derek Miles (Newtown, CT), along with Rhode Island College junior Tim Leonard (Scituate, RI), a pair of seniors form the University of Southern Maine in Mike Suesse (Westborough, MA) and Troy Walz (Portland, ME), with Eastern Connecticut State University’s Barney sharing the goalkeeper position with University of Southern Maine sophomore Chris Willard (Hampton, CT).

Little East Conference - 2004 Men’s Soccer Awards

Offensive Player of the Year

Kyle Teixeira, Junior, Forward, Rhode Island College

Defensive Player of the Year

Jim Hogan, Senior, Back, Keene State College

Rookie of the Year

Jay Barney, Freshman, Goalkeeper, Eastern Connecticut State University

Coach of the Year

Eric Miller, University of Southern Maine

First Team

Name                        Position                     Class                        Institution      

Casey Banks              Forward                     Senior                        Keene State College

Kyle Teixeira              Forward                     Junior                        Rhode Island College

Andrew Budelman      Forward                     Senior                        University of Southern Maine

John Harke                 Midfield                     Senior                        Keene State College

Erik Scott                    Midfield                    Sophomore                 Keene State College

Sebastian Rodriguez     Midfield                    Senior                        Plymouth State University

Zach Rossignol            Midfield                    Senior                        University of Southern Maine

Jim Hogan                   Back                        Senior                        Keene State College

Bryan Biederman         Back                        Sophomore                Plymouth State University

Elton Livramento          Back                        Senior                        University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Arlindo Dossantos        Back                        Senior                        Western Connecticut State University

Dan Custance              Goalkeeper                Senior                        Plymouth State University

Second Team

Name                        Position                        Class                        Institution      

Jason Lombardo         Forward                        Senior                        Keene State College

Tiago Pinto                 Forward                        Junior                        University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Brad Fidler                 Forward                        Sophomore                 Western Connecticut State University

Zac Griffin                  Midfield                        Senior                        Eastern Connecticut State University

Steve Balgach             Midfield                        Junior                        Plymouth State University

Mario Carvajal            Midfield                        Senior                        Western Connecticut State University

Matt Cusack               Midfield                        Junior                        Western Connecticut State University

Matt Fitzgerald            Back                            Sophomore                  Eastern Connecticut State University

Derek Miles                Back                            Sophomore                 Eastern Connecticut State University

Tim Leonard               Back                             Junior                        Rhode Island College

Mike Suesse               Back                             Senior                        University of Southern Maine

Troy Walz                  Back                             Senior                        University of Southern Maine

Jay Barney                 Goalkeeper                    Freshman                   Eastern Connecticut State University

Chris Willard               Goalkeeper                    Sophomore                University of Southern Maine