Four Beavers Named Second Team All-Stars, Nkama Picks Up Sportsmanship of the Year Honors
NEW YORK - The City College of New York men's soccer team snagged five City University of New York Athletic Conference honors as junior Samuel Nkama, senior Tayfun Kucuk and freshmen Jorge Galvez and Nicolas Corrao were named second team all-stars while Nkama earned the Sportsmanship of the Year award as announced by the CUNYAC office late Monday.
Nkama led the team with seven assists (third in the conference) and added three goals as the Beavers lost a heartbreaker to Brooklyn College, 1-0, in the CUNYAC / Applebee's Semifinals game last week. Nkama earned the sportsmanship award as coaches around the conference believed he plays the game with respect for his teammates and opponents.
"Samuel Nkama is a gentleman," said head coach Roberto Ignaccolo. "When he inadvertently fouls an opponent, he quickly gives his hand to help him back up."
Kucuk entered the season as the only two-time captain for Ignaccolo's team. His leadership was a vital point to the turnaround season for CCNY as the senior posted a 5-5-1 record with two shutouts after beginning the season with a 0-3 mark. When the CUNYAC playoffs started, Kucuk showed why he is one of the best goalkeepers around. He registered 14 saves in a shootout victory over Lehman College in the CUNYAC Quarterfinals game. In the shootout, he made two outstanding saves, diving to his left and to his right to perserve the lead for the Beavers.
Galvez shined in his debut season as one of the staples for a stingy defense known to frusterate their opponents. He earned the first ever CUNYAC Defender of the Week honors Jorge Galvez has been named the first ever CUNYAC/Applebee's Men's Soccer Defender of the Week honors after leading CCNY to a perfect 3-0 week in victories over Berkeley College (3-2) and CUNYAC foes the College of Staten Island (3-2 in double overtime) and Hunter College (1-0 in overtime).
Corrao earned second team all-star honors and played a key role off of Ignaccolo's bench. He played in 17 games and posted one goal for the Beavers, a 5-1 victory over Medgar Evers College.
For full coverage of Beavers soccer, please visit CCNYAthletics.com, the home of all 17 CCNY sports and follow @CCNYSports on Twitter.
2012 CUNYAC/Applebee's Men's Soccer All-Stars
Player of the Year: Nedgy Nazon, Staten Island
Rookie of the Year: Oren Kozlowski, Baruch
Coach of the Year: Rawle Hensford, Brooklyn
Sportsmanship Award: Samuel Nkama, CCNY
First-Team All-Stars
GK – Stamatis Boundouris, Brooklyn
D – Akil George, Baruch
D – Peter Vavalle, Brooklyn
D – Denton Lang, Brooklyn
D – Jordan Chin, York
MF – Christopher Peralta, Baruch
MF – Alwyn Adams, Brooklyn
MF – Dmitry Prokofyev, Brooklyn
MF – Aleh Kazak, Lehman
F – Oumar Niang, Lehman
F – Pajtim Gjonbalaj, Brooklyn
Second-Team All-Stars
GK – Tayfun Kucuk, CCNY
D – Jorge Galvez, CCNY
D – Christ Assou, John Jay
D – Carlos Ribeiro, Lehman
D – Jaime Hay, York
MF – Nicholas Corrao, CCNY
MF – Alfonso Castaneda, Staten Island
MF – Korede Griffith, John Jay
MF – Ousmane Toure, York
F – Samuel Nkama, CCNY
F – Andre Adelson, York
