All-Region and All-Conference Honors for GCC Men's Soccer

BATAVIA, NY (11/17/2015)(readMedia)-- The Genesee Community College men's soccer team earned selections to the All-Region III and All-Western New York Athletic Conference (WNYAC) Teams recently after the Cougars completed an unbeaten regular season en-route to 20 victories and a trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament.

Freshman strikers William Stone (Little Hampton, UK) and Ricard Fernandez-Sarro (Barcelona, Spain) were both named to the All-Region III First Team along with freshman midfielder Rafael Godoi (Osasco, SP, Brazil) and sophomore defender Jake Miller (Bristol, England). Freshman midfielder Sam King (Nottingham, UK) was named to the all-region second team.

Stone, also named the Region III Player of the Year, played in and started 18 games this fall for GCC. He led the country in assists with 18 and was fifth in goals with 25. He totaled 68 points, the third highest mark in the country and accounted for two game-winning goals.

Fernandez-Sarro led the country in goals (36) and points (79) and set the single-season school record in both categories. He scored a goal in all but five of GCC's 21 games this fall and scored multiple goals in 10 contests.

Godoi was second in the region in assists with 15, which was the third best mark in the country. He scored 14 goals and totaled 43 points, the fifth highest mark in the region. Godoi made 19 starts during his freshman campaign.

Miller recorded 15 points as a defender including 11 assists and two goals. He helped the GCC defense limit opponents to a 0.75 goals against average, the second best average in the country.

King produced six points as a two-way midfielder, assisting on four goals and scoring one. He contributed on both sides for the Cougars and appeared in 20 games, making 18 starts.

Along with all-region honors, Stone, Fernandez-Sarro, Godoi and Miller were also named to the All-WNYAC First Team. Joining them on the all-conference first team are sophomore forward Austin Richardson (Byron, NY), sophomore defender Dean Byrne (County Laois, Ireland) and sophomore goalkeeper Connor Halsted (Hemlock, NY).

Richardson scored 20 goals, the third most on the team and added seven assists. He played in and started 18 games this fall.

Byrne, a team captain, was one of only two Cougars to start and play in all 21 games this season for GCC. He helped anchor the Genesee defense and added two goals and an assist.

Halsted posted a 20-1 record in goal and sported a 0.82 goals against average, the fifth best average in the country. He made 56 saves and allowed just 13 goals.

The Cougars won their second Region III title in school history and appeared in the NJCAA National Tournament for the second time in the program's history. The 2015 team set the national record for most goals in a season with 141 and 20 wins is the new school record for most victories in a single season.

Genesee Community College athletics program endeavors to provide a quality and competitive intercollegiate athletics program consistent with the National Junior Collegiate Athletics Association (NJCAA) philosophy and the overall educational mission of Genesee Community College. Participation in collegiate athletics should be an extension of the total educational experience for the student athlete. The inherent philosophy emphasizes the athletic setting as a classroom used to teach character, commitment, work ethic, respect for differences, and the importance of sacrifice, teamwork, and cooperation.

For further information and pictures go to Genesee's Athletic webpage, which is updated regularly with game results, team rosters, photographs and information about Genesee's overall athletic program. http://www.geneseeathletics.com