ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Chris Wehan was named First Team All-Conference USA to highlight UNM’s seven All-Conference selections released by the Conference office Tuesday. Niko Hansen and Chris Gurule were named to the second team, Josh Goss and Josh Dye were named to the third team, and Francesco Casucci and Patrick Khouri were named to the All-Freshman Team. The awards are voted on by the league’s coaches, and UNM’s seven honorees tied for the second most in the conference.
This is the second straight first team honor for Wehan, who was also named the Freshman of the Year in C-USA in 2013. He is tied for second in C-USA with 10 goals (23rd, NCAA), including four game-winners (15th, NCAA). He helped lead the Lobos to wins over three top-25 opponents, burying the game-winner against No. 19 UCSB and at No. 20 Loyola Marymount. Wehan was the consensus Sept. 8 National Player of the Week, earning the distinction from the NSCAA, College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer.
Hansen is third on the Lobos in scoring with three goals and three assists. He was a Third Team All-C-USA performer last season and on the All-Freshman Team in 2013. Gurule has started every game at center back for the Lobos and was recently named Academic All-District. He has one assist this season and has helped UNM post four shutouts and a 0.93 GAA. This is his first career All-Conference honor.
It is also the first All-Conference award for both Dye and Goss. Dye, who was a Second Team Academic All-American last year, is third among all field players at UNM with 1,542 minutes played. He has appeared in every game and started 16 of them. Goss is a midfielder by trade but has played left back the majority of the season. He has started every game and is right behind Dye in minutes played with 1,534. He also has five assists this year to lead the team.
Casucci, a true freshman, is second on the team in scoring with four goals and two assists for 10 points despite making just four starts thisyear. He was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 19 after his two-goal, one-assist performance against UAB. Khouri is a redshirt freshman who has started every game. Like Goss he is a natural midfielder, but lately he has spent time playing right back as well. He has played 1,348 minutes this season.
UNM earned the No. 6 seed in the Conference Tournament and faces South Carolina at 2:30 p.m. MT on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
2015 CONFERENCE USA MEN’S AWARDS
Player of the Year
Callum Irving, Kentucky
Offensive MVP
Kyle Parker, Charlotte
Defensive MVP
Callum Irving, Kentucky
Freshman of the Year
Niko Klosterhalfen, Old Dominion
Golden Boot Award
Kyle Parker, Charlotte (seven goals)
Golden Glove Award
Callum Irving, Kentucky (seven shutouts)
Co-Coaches of the Year
Scott Calabrese, FIU
Johan Cedergren, Kentucky
All-Conference USA First Team
GK: Callum Irving, Kentucky
D: Marvin Hezel, FIU
D: Jordan Wilson, Kentucky
D: Michael Nelson, Old Dominion
MF: Brandt Bronico, Charlotte
MF: Napo Matsoso, Kentucky
MF: Chris Wehan, New Mexico
MF: Ivan Militar, Old Dominion
MF: Danny Deakin, South Carolina
F: Kyle Parker, Charlotte
F: Ian Svantesson, UAB
All-Conference USA Second Team
GK: Alex Tiesenhausen, Old Dominion
D: Nick Edginton, Marshall
D: Chris Gurule, New Mexico
D: Koty Millard, South Carolina
MF: Max Rodriguez, Charlotte
MF: Daniel Gonzalez, FIU
MF: Ismael Longo, FIU
F: Luis Betancur, FIU
F: Stefan Stojkovic, Kentucky
F: Rimario Gordon, Marshall
F: Niko Hansen, New Mexico
F: Kevin Walker, South Carolina
F: Freddy Ruiz, UAB
All-Conference USA Third Team
GK: Austin Pack, Charlotte
D: Matej Dekovic, Charlotte
D: Josh Goss, New Mexico
D: David Macsicza, Old Dominion
D: Ive Burnett, South Carolina
MF: Kristoffer Tollefsen, Kentucky
MF: Josh Dye, New Mexico
MF: Cole Stringer, Old Dominion
F: Thomas Gallitz, Florida Atlantic
F: Jesse Miralrio, Old Dominion
F: Jeffrey Torda, South Carolina
Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Tommy Madden, MF, Charlotte
Callum Montgomery, D, Charlotte
Steffen Böhm, D, FIU
Douglas Landvik, MF, Florida Atlantic
Tanner Hummel, D, Kentucky
Xahne Reid, MF, Kentucky
Francesco Casucci, MF, New Mexico
Patrick Khouri, MF, New Mexico
Niko Klosterhalfen, MF, Old Dominion
Jack Willbye, MF, Old Dominion
Peyton Ericson, D, South Carolina
Torgeir Nyboe, D, South Carolina