Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men’s soccer team has placed six players on the All-PSAC West teams. Forward Billy Colton and midfielder David Miller were named to the first team, while Michael De Rose, Danny Mudd, Marty Powell and Nicholas Thompson were voted to the second team. The Lakers led all PSAC schools with six All-PSAC West selections.
The Lakers finished the season 9-6-2, 3-3-2 in PSAC West play, remaining in playoff contention the entire season.
Colton, a sophomore from Pitsea, England, led Mercyhurst in goals, points and game-winning goals. He was an All-GLIAC First Team member in 2007 He scored 14 goals and three assists for 31 points on the season. His four game-winning goals led the team. He was an offensive threat during every match, using his speed to run down long balls and through balls with regularity, generating opportunities toward the net. Colton scored both Laker goals in their 2-0 win over cross town rival Gannon Sept. 24. That match was one of four two-goal games for Colton this season. He set a season high with five points in the Lakers’ 4-0 win over Alderson-Broaddus Sept. 13, notching two goals and an assist. Colton scored 16 goals and three assists in 20 games as a freshman in 2007. He has registered 30 goals and six assists for 66 career points through two seasons. He was named Daktronics Second Team All-Atlantic Region and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-District this season as well.
Miller, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, made an immediate impact during his first season at Mercyhurst, as he scored a goal and an assist in the season opener against Seton Hill Aug. 28. He distributed the ball with skill and efficiency, setting up other players for scoring chances. He scored one goal and two assists for four points this season, including one game-winning goal. In addition to the Seton Hill game, he assisted on Colton’s game-winning goal against Gannon Sept. 24.
De Rose, a sophomore from Richmond Hill, Canada, had a breakout season, placing second on the team in scoring with three goals and three assists for nine points. He played well down the stretch, contributing two goals and one assist in the Lakers’ final five contests. He netted the Lakers’ fourth goal in a 4-2 win over Findlay Oct. 18 and assisted on Colton’s game-tying goal in a 3-2 victory over Lock Haven Oct. 25. His goal against Ohio Valley Nov. 1 proved to be the Lakers’ final tally of 2008. He assisted on Thompson’s game-winning goal against No. 20 Millersville Sept. 21. De Rose scored his first career goal in Mercyhurst’s 3-0 win over Lake Erie College Sept. 10.
Mudd, a senior goalkeeper from Hull, England, has been a stalwart in goal for Mercyhurst his entire career, starting 76 contests over four years. This is his fourth career all-conference honor, as he was first team All-GLIAC in 2006 and second team All-GLIAC in 2005 and 2007. He posted a 1.20 goals against average, along with four shutouts this season. Mudd made critical stops all season, allowing Mercyhurst to stay in close games. His four shutouts came against: Seton Hill Aug. 28, Lake Erie Sept. 10, Alderson-Broaddus Sept. 13, and against cross town rival Gannon Sept. 24. Mudd finished the season first in the PSAC with an .820 save percentage and ranked in the top five in every other major goalkeeping statistic. His best season, in 2006, saw him post a 1.04 GAA and seven shutouts, earning all-region honors from the NSCAA. He has ended his career at or near the top of all three career lists for Mercyhurst goalkeepers. His 322 saves have set a Lakers men’s soccer career record.
Powell, a senior defender from McKean, Pa., has earned his first all-conference award. His stellar defense helped the Lakers post a team goals against average of 1.25, as he regularly defused what seemed to be clear chances for opposing strikers. He played both ends of the field, often leading the attack up the pitch, creating scoring chances for teammates in the process. He scored one goal and three assists for five points, tying his career highs set ion 2006. He scored the Lakers’ lone goal in their 1-1 draw at California, Pa. Sept. 2 off of a Billy Ninopoulos corner kick. He assisted on two game-winning goals this season, setting up Miller’s goal in the Lakers’ 3-0 season-opening win against Seton Hill and assisting on Colton’s first goal in a 4-0 triumph over Alderson-Broaddus. His leadership and determination were shown in all aspects of his play on the field, and he was on the GLIAC All-Academic Team in 2007.
Thomspon, a senior defender from London, England, placed third on the team in scoring with 3 goals and two assists for eight points. His goal and point totals this season serve as career highs, as do his three-point outing against Shippensburg. He provided much offense from his position on the back line and in the defending midfield assignment. Thompson took a majority of Mercyhurst’s corner kicks this season. He picked up assists in back-to-back games, assisting on Colton’s game-tying goal at Shippensburg. He set up Ryan Florian’s game-tying goal Oct. 1 at Lock Haven. He scored two game-winning goals this season, untying the score against No. 20 Millersville Sept. 21 and recording an overtime goal at Shippensburg. Thompson scored the Lakers’ second goal in their season-opening 3-0 win over Seton Hill.
These six players mark the largest group of Mercyhurst men’s soccer players to be named all-conference since 2004, when three Lakers made first team All-GLIAC and three made the second team.