Nov. 1, 2006

Baltimore, Md. - The Loyola men's soccer team landed eight players on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-MAAC teams as announced by the conference office today. Seniors Omar Alfonso, Rade Kokovic and Gabriel Ortega represented the Greyhounds on the first-team for the third time in their respective careers.

Alfonso, Loyola's leading scorer this year with 19 points, is a first-team member once again. The senior from Staten Island was the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003 and has been a Regional All-America in his previous two full seasons with the Greyhounds. Alfonso, an MBA student at Loyola, also earned Academic All-MAAC honors on Wednesday.

Kokovic is a first-team member for the third straight year with nine points from the midfield this season. A native of Belgrade, Serbia, Kokovic has also been a four-year starter for the Greyhounds.

Like Kokovic, Ortega is a first-team selection for the third consecutive season and has been a four-year starter for the Greyhounds at defense. Last year, Ortega was also a regional All-America.

Loyola also landed three players on the second-team with senior goalkeeper Justin Chelland, sophomore defender Phil Brierley and freshman defender Tennant McVea. Chelland has five shutouts this season and boasts a .781 save percentage with 82 saves in 16 games played. Brierley and McVea have contributed to those shutouts and have bolstered a Loyola defense with four shutouts against MAAC opponents.

Loyola's all-rookie members include McVea, forward Jamie Darvill and defender Mike McTigue. Below is the complete All-MAAC squad.

First Team All-MAAC
Tom Skara	Fairfield	Back
Gabe Ortega 	Loyola	Back
Gamal Breedy	Saint Peter's	Back
Damion Gaynor	Saint Peter's	Back
Sam Bailey	Fairfield	Midfielder
Rade Kokovic	Loyola	Midfielder
Chris DeAbreu	Saint Peter's	Midfielder
Marco Orias	Saint Peter's	Midfielder
Omar Alfonso	Loyola	Forward
Matt Stedman	Niagara	Forward
Juan Gaviria	Saint Peter's	Forward
Jon Paul Francini	Fairfield	Goalkeeper
Second Team All-MAAC
Tom Clements	Fairfield	Back
Mike Troy	Fairfield	Back
Phil Brierley	Loyola	Back
Tennant McVea	Loyola	Back
Bruno Machado	Marist	Back
Billy Gustafson	Niagara	Back
Sam Bailey	Fairfield	Midfielder
Rafael Venturini	Niagara	Midfielder
Liam Welsh	Siena	Midfielder
Alan McGreal	Canisius	Forward
Keith Detelj	Marist	Forward
Murphy Wiredu	Saint Peter's	Forward
Justin Chelland	Loyola	Goalkeeper
Dan Riverso	Rider	Goalkeeper
All-Rookie Team
San Vella	Canisius	Back
Mike McTigue	Loyola	Back
Tennant McVea	Loyola	Back
Assaf Sheleg	Saint Peter's	Back
David Predrahita	Fairfield	Midfielder
Christian Uy	Fairfield	Midfielder
Udi Naim	Saint Peter's	Midfielder
Alan McGreal	Canisius	Forward
Jamie Darvill	Loyola	Forward
Jamison Allegra	Marist	Forward
John Fiutowski	Niagara	Goalkeeper

Offensive Player of the Year
Juan Gaviria, Saint Peter's
Defensive Player of the Year
Tom Skara, Fairfield
Rookie of the Year
Alan McGreal, Canisius