Lobos Land Seven on C-USA All-Conference Teams
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Seven members of The University of New Mexico men’s soccer team have earned All-Conference USA recognition, the league announced Tuesday. Junior Aaron Herrera was named C-USA Defensive MVP and earned C-USA First Team honors while the Lobos garnered pairs of second team, third team and freshmen team honorees.
In addition to Herrera’s All-Conference First Team nod, senior Jason Beaulieu and redshirt-sophomore Tom Smart were named to the All-Conference Second Team, senior Sam Gleadle and sophomore Aaron Scott earned spots on the All-Conference Third Team while redshirt-freshman Billy Jones as well as true freshman Nick Barreiro were named to the Conference-USA All-Freshman Team.
Herrera’s awards mark his first C-USA All-Conference honors in his career. He earns his spot as the C-USA Defensive MVP after being named Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Second Team to kick off the season, as well as to the 2017 PDL Players to Watch List. The 2017 Grange and Ashwill Invitational MVP and Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week honoree (9/12) is tied for first in the league with three game-winning goals and leads the Lobos with 15 points on five goals and five assists.
His outstanding offensive stats add to his prowess in the back as his primary responsibility has been helping anchor the Lobo defense that has allowed just 17 goals on the season and posted five shutouts.
Speaking of shutouts, senior keeper Jason Beaulieu claimed all five to earn his spot on the All-Conference Second Team for his first All-Conference honor of his career. The senior was named the Grange and Ashwill Invitational Defensive MVP and was a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week this season.
Beaulieu currently ranks 19th in the country in save percentage (.817), second in C-USA, and is ranked second in the league in saves per game (4.47). In addition, he is currently in the top five in Lobo history in wins (34), shutouts (22), saves (239) and appearances (68).
Joining Beaulieu on the second team for the second time in his career is Smart who was also named to the C-USA Preseason Team. Smart is an integral part of the Lobo defensive unit that has posted five shutouts on the season. He has started in every game in which he has played and seen 1,307 minutes on the pitch this season.
Also earning his first All-Conference honor is Gleadle, who’s efforts in his senior season landed him a spot on the All-Conference Third Team. Gleadle is a dangerous attacking player that has started all games in which he has played this season (13). He is tied for third on the Lobo squad in points with eight on three goals and a pair of assists. One of the Lobos’ top chance-creators, Gleadle posts a career .482 shot on goal percentage.
Making his debut on the list in his first season as a Lobo, Scott earned C-USA Third Team distinction after starting all 17 matches in his inaugural season. He has posted 1,407 minutes on the pitch and tallied three points on one goal and one assist. In addition, Scott helps anchor the Lobo defense and has been instrumental in the Lobos’ five shutouts on the season.
Redshirt-freshman Jones was named to the All-Freshman team for his performance on the season that included starting in all 16 matches in which he has played. Jones has seen over 1,200 minutes on the pitch and accumulated a .400 shot on goal percentage.
The final Lobo to make the list is the only true-freshman of the group, Barreiro. The rookie kicked off the season with an injury, but came back with a vengeance, starting eight of the nine games in which he has played. He has been instrumental in helping anchor the Lobo defense, serving as a team player as he filled in at the right back position while the UNM coaching staff moved Herrera up front to work on the offensive attack.
Of the seven Lobos to earn a spot on the list this year, six are first-time honorees.
The Lobos are set to begin Conference USA Tournament play on Wednesday, Nov. 8 against Charlotte at 12 p.m. MT.