Six Honored On All-MASCAC Men's Soccer Team

Westfield, MA --- Senior Brendan Whitson (Auburn, MA) has been recognized as the MASCAC Player of the Year as he highights six all-conference selections for Worcester State in a vote by the leagues eight head coaches earlier this week.

Joining Whitson on the All-MASCAC First-Team were senior teammates Brian Cormier (Hudson, MA) and Derek Alves (Ludlow, MA) along with sophomore Nick Zucco (Ludlow, MA). Fourth-year classmates Alex Wolfel (Unionville, CT) and Jake Denver (E. Longmeadow, MA) were also recognized on the Second-Team.

Whitson, who has been honored for the second consecutive season on the First-Team, recorded a conference-best 12 goals to go along with three helpers for the best point total in the MASCAC (27).

In league-only games, Whitson tallied an astounding nine goals and two assists in six contests with game-winning goals against Framingham State, Salem State and Westfield State.

Since transferring from Nichols in his junior season, Whitson has been an impact player with 50 points on 21 goals and eight dishes for the 11th best sum on Worcester State's all-time scoring list.

Wolfel earns his third consecutive nod to the All-MASCAC team which included First-Team accolades during his sophomore year.

Among leaders in the conference, Wolfel ties for the lead with seven assists while he is second in points (25) and third with nine goals.

A man possessed, Wolfel started out the season hitting home eight strikes in his team's first nine games. In conference play he distributed assists on the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw with Bridgewater State and both helpers in a 2-0 victory over Fitchburg State.  

Wolfel is currently sixth on WSU's all-time scoring list (71 points), fifth in career markers (28) and he is just seven points away from the top five.

Cormier, who started 17 games at outside midfield, shared the MASCAC lead with seven helpers while he also pitched in with a pair of goals. Four of his seven assists occurred during league contests.

From his position, Cormier was instrumental in leading a midfield that posted the highest MASCAC total in goals (36), assists (32) and points (104).

Zucco had a breakout season for the Blue and Gold as he started all but one game in net. He put up a 1.00 goals against average in 1525:50 minutes to go with 81 saves.

As of this past week, Zucco was in the top four in the MASCAC all three categories and he had the second-highest save percentage (.827).

Against league opponents, Zucco stepped up to the occasion for Worcester State. In 650 minutes he allowed just three goals to cross between the pipes for a sparkling 0.42 goals against average with four shutouts and a .909 save percentage.

As the starting center backs, Alves and Denver anchored defensive unit that teamed up for the second-lowest goals allowed sum in the MASCAC (19) and the third lowest goals against average (1.06).

Alves also was a force offensively as he chipped in with four goals and one assist which included the lone goal in a 1-0 overtime win over Elms and the deciding blow in a 5-2 comeback victory over UMass Dartmouth.

Denver, who's played in 64 career games over his four years, has distributed three assists on the season to help the squad put up the fifth highest total in club history.

Worcester State (10-3-4) enjoyed their first MASCAC Regular Season title and unbeaten conference slate (6-0-1) since 2003 under direction of fourth-year head coach Jason Willis. As the top seed in the conference tournament, they will received a first-round bye and will play #4 Mass Maritime later tonight in semifinals.

2013 All-MASCAC Men's Soccer Team

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