HAMDEN, CT – On the eve of the Northeast Conference men’s soccer tournament, the all-conference teams were announced at the annual banquet Thursday night, with James Price, Daniel Valcicak and Nick Kolarac receiving honors.
Price was selected to the first team as a defender and earned the second All-NEC honor of his career. He picked up second team honors as a junior last season. In his final go-around with the Red Flash, the 6-4 back out of New Zealand scored the game-tying goal in a critical 2-1 win over St. Francis (NY) midway through the conference schedule. Defensively, he helped anchor a SFU backfield that has allowed the second fewest goals in the NEC and ranks 12th in shutout percentage and 19th in goals against average on a national level.
Due to a tie in total votes received, Valcicak and his goalkeeper counterpart Alex Blackburn of Monmouth both received selections to the first team. This is Valcicak’s first all-conference honor. The Virginia native is having a senior season to remember after he posted eight shutouts for the season, second all-time in the SFU record book. Additionally, Valcicak is among the best keeper’s in the nation as he is ranked among the top-25 in a multitude of categories. With a .720 goals against average, the 5-10 keeper ranks 17th in the NCAA, is fourth with an .865 save percentage and is tied for 24th with 83 total saves.
Representing Saint Francis on the second team for the first time in his career is Kolarac who posted a career year. The 5-8 midfielder tallied two assists and a career-best five goals and 12 points on the year. He finished the regular season as the team leader in goals and points. Three of Kolarac’s five scores went as game-winners and helped secure a playoff spot for the Red Flash.
Saint Francis enters the Northeast Conference tournament Friday morning as the No. 4 seed and will face top-seeded Quinnipiac at 11 a.m.
