KANSAS CITY, MO. — Three members of The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team have been named 2016 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Southeast Region for their outstanding performances throughout the 2016 season that led the Lobos to their first ever Conference USA Tournament Championship and into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Seniors Niko Hansen andChris Wehan were named to the first team while classmate Chris Gurule was named to the second team.
NSCAA ALL-SOUTHEAST REGION TEAMS
Hansen and Wehan led the Lobos with a combined 21 of UNM’s 34 goals this season to land them on the NSCAA All-Southeast First Team. The pair also netted a total of nine game-winning goals.
Hansen, who was most recently named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, finished his final season starting all 21 matches in which he played while posting 29 points on 13 goals and three assists. His 13 goals were good for 11th in the nation and ranked the most among all players in the Conference USA. He also led the league in game-winning goals (7) to rank second in the NCAA. He was named College Soccer News National Player of the Week on Sept. 19 in addition to his several other accolades this season including CoSIDA All-District First Team, NCAA Soccer National Player of the Week Runner-Up (Sept. 21), All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Tournament Team.
Wehan, a 2016 Mac Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree, finished second on the team with 19 points on eight goals and three assists while tallying two game-winning goals in his senior season. He started all 22 matches for the Lobos, was named to the All-Conference USA First Team and earned Conference USA All-Tournament Offensive MVP after his two goals and assist led UNM to the C-USA title.
Gurule was an integral part of the Lobo defense that posted nine shutouts this season while allowing just 21 goals. In his final season as a Lobo, the defender posted four points on four assists while earning several defensive honors including Conference USA Tournament MVP, CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team and two All-Tournament teams throughout the season. He was also named to the All-Conference USA Third Team.