Men's Soccer Celebrates 2013 Season at Awards Banquet
March 24, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team held its annual awards banquet over the weekend, with a group in attendance celebrating the 2013 season. South Carolina head men’s soccer coach Mark Berson along with his assistant coaches Spencer Lewis and Joey Worthen, awarded junior defender Braeden Troyer with the John Johnson Team MVP Award.
Junior defender Mahamoudou Kaba was awarded the Bill Lauritzen Most Valuable Defensive Player Award and sophomore midfielder Jeffrey Torda took home the Brian Winstead Most Valuable Offensive Player Award. Senior midfielder J.P. Rafferty, a 2013 team captain, received the Coaches Award.
The Gamecocks also recognized their All-Conference USA selections. Kaba garnered first team honors, Troyer made an appearance on the second team and goalkeeper Marco Velez and forward Kurtis Turner were all-freshman selections. Kaba earned a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region nod as well.
South Carolina also celebrated their Team Academic Award from the NSCAA South Carolina after the team posted a 3.54 cumulative team GPA for the 2012-13 season; the GPA was the highest in Division I men’s soccer for the time period. The Gamecocks have posted the highest GPA in Division I twice in the last four seasons.
Individuals with the highest cumulative GPA per class were recognized with the Academic Award. Stephen Anderson (3.984) took the senior class award, Troyer (3.982) the junior award; Ryan Arambula (3.849) earned the sophomore award and Eli Dent (3.8) the freshman class.
Troyer and Arambula were honored for their Capital One Academic All-District Team selections.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, the Gamecocks faced College of Charleston in their second spring game of the season. South Carolina defeated the Cougars 1-0 on a goal from Torda. Velez played the first half in the goal with Robert Beebe taking over in the second half to combine for the shutout.
South Carolina continues spring soccer play on Sun., Mar. 30, when they travel to Atlanta, Ga., to face the Atlanta Silverbacks. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
