THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2009) – Four members of the Maritime men's soccer team were named to the all-Skyline Conference first and second teams, as announced by conference officials earlier this week. First-year sophomore Cesur Alagoz earned first team all-conference accolades, while juniors Harris Papson and Andrew Rahner along with sophomore-transfer Tom Federico were named to the all-Skyline second team. This is the most amount of players that Maritime has had named to all-conference teams for men's soccer since joining the Skyline Conference.

 

“I am very proud of how the team worked this year and having four members make the all-conference team is a testament to that,” said head coach Andrew McCarthy. “We were a very young team and had to work through some growing pains and injuries. Making the conference tournament was our goal since the beginning of the season and we accomplished that. With the commitment of the players, we have higher goals for next year and plan to contend for the conference title.”

 

Alagoz, who is in his first year at Maritime as part of an exchange program with Istanbul Technical University, enjoyed great success on the pitch for the Privateers. The forward scored a team-high nine goals and tied for the team-lead with six assists, leading all players with 24 points. The Istanbul, Turkey, native was thrice named Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week as her earned the accolade the first two weeks of the season (Sept. 8 and 14) and again on Oct. 19.

 

Papson, who earns his first all-conference team selection, led the Privateers with a 9-6-1 record between the bars and ranked first among conference goalkeepers with a 1.02 goals against average. The Flushing, N.Y., native was named Skyline Player of the Week once on Oct. 19 and earned a weekly honor roll nod once on Sept. 21. Papson recorded two shutouts on the season, which ranked tied for sixth in the conference.

 

This is Rahner's third-straight season being named to a Skyline all-conference team as a defender, as he was a first team member his freshman season in 2007 and a second team member last year. The Setauket, N.Y., native's great defensive skills helped lead Maritime to six shutouts this season and his leadership on and off the field help the Privateers qualify for the conference tournament for the third-consecutive year.

 

Federico, a natural playmaker, earned his first Skyline all-conference team accolade with the Privateers after recording the squad's second-best point total with 14 (five goals and four assists). The Islip, N.Y. native played the instrumental part of center midfielder, controlling much of the game for Maritime and helping the team reach the Skyline Conference tournament.

 

The Maritime men's soccer squad finished the season with an improved 10-7-1 record over last season's and qualified for its third-straight appearance in the Skyline Conference Championships, where the Privateers were edged by NYU-Poly in overtime in the opening round.