NJCAA All-Americans Announced for Men's Soccer
The NJCAA released their All-American selections for the Fall 2021 season to round out the soccer season.
The ICCAC had three of their teams make the National Tournament across Division I and Division II. Leading the way was Iowa Western who won the NJCAA Division Championship for the first time since the 2013 season.
The ICCAC Division I Player of the Year, Luka Nedic earned First Team All-American honors after playing nearly immaculate defense throughout the season and during the tournament. Nedic was the backbone for the Reiver defense that allowed only five goals in the regular season, and 0.36 goals allowed per game.
Nedic and company allowed just two goals during their championship run (a 6-2 rout of Coffeyville in the opening match). Despite minimal scoring statistics, he was the best player for the best team in 2021.
Joining their teammate Nedic on the First Team was fellow defensemen Moise Bombito and goalkeeper Yuta Ishizuka. Both of these players were also gurus, playing a major role in arguably the best defense in the NJCAA.
Ishizuka sat in the net for Iowa Western that only allowed five goals. He racked up 41 saves on the season. On average, Ishizuka allowed 0.28 goals per game while playing over 1,600 minutes. He leads the NJCAA for total shutouts with 12 and did not suffer a loss to his name this season.
Taking Second Team honors was Logan Roach from the only team to beat Iowa Western, Iowa Lakes. Roach was third on the Lakers team for goals scored with eight on the season as a defender.
Another Iowa Lakes player joined Roach, Sofian Maghouz was placed on the Third Team.
Maghouz was second on the team in goals with nine, and led the Lakers with 11 assists. He sits sixth in the NJCAA for assists. Maghouz helped lead the Lakers to a 18-4 record and to the National Tournament for the second-straight season.
From Division II, Southeastern forward Jimison St. Louis earned ICCAC Division II Player of the Year and along with it came First Team All-American honors. He led the ICCAC in goals (23), and total points (53). He also landed at the fifth spot and sixth spot in the NJCAA in those categories.
The reigning national champion Blackhawks made it back to the National Tournament after a solid regional and District run before getting eliminated in pool play.
St. Louis' teammate Yohan Bernard got on the Second Team after being one of the best defenders in Division II. Bernard was also a threat offensively. He knocked in five goals and added six assists.
Finishing out the 2021 selections from the ICCAC was Alex Harris of Hawkeye who took Third Team honors.
Harris was able to find the back of the net five times and pass the ball off for five assists, but he's more known for the lockdown defense he plays. His defense is a key reason why the Hawkeyes finished first in the conference and made it to the Region XI Tournament Championship.