OMAHA, Neb. – Eleven Omaha players were named to the 2017 All-Summit League Men's Soccer Teams; the conference office announced Wednesday evening.
The first team included five Mavericks: senior midfielder
Xavier Gomez, senior forward
Emmanuel Hamzat, sophomore forward
Elvir Ibisevic, sophomore defender
Seth Rinderknecht and senior defender
Jacob Weiler. Two more UNO players were named to the second team: senior goalkeeper
Joseph Ghitis and junior midfielder
Cole Nelson. Four additional Mavericks were placed on the all-newcomer team: senior midfielder
Brahan Gamarra, freshman midfielder
Miguel Gomez, freshman midfielder
Diego Gutierrez and freshman defender
Stevie Siy.
Omaha had five repeat all-conference picks in Ghitis, Hamzat, Ibisevic, Rinderknecht and Weiler. Ghitis, Hamzat, Ibisevic and Rinderknecht were previously first-team selections in 2016, while Weiler was a second-team honoree.
Gomez, who started 14 games this season, led the Summit League with eight assists and tied for third in points (16). He was named Summit League Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 6.
Hamzat appeared in 16 games with 12 starts this season. His seven goals were third in the league and fifth in points (15).
Ibisevic led the Mavericks in points, goals, shots and game-winning goals in 2017. He tied for the league lead in goals and finished second in points. Ibisevic was a two-time league offensive player of the week and was named National Player of the Week on Aug. 29.
Rinderknecht, who started 14 games, anchored a Maverick defense that allowed only three goals in league play this season. The sophomore was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18.
Weiler, who started 13 games, led an Omaha defensive unit that had a 0.55 goals-against average and three shutouts in conference action.
Omaha hosts this weekend's Summit League Men's Soccer Championship and is the tournament's No. 3 seed. The Mavericks face No. 2 seed Western Illinois on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. at Caniglia Field.
2017 ALL-SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S SOCCER TEAMS
First Team
Scott DeVoss (D), Jr., Denver
Xavier Gomez (M), Sr., Omaha
Emmanuel Hamzat (F), Sr., Omaha
Elvir Ibisevic (F), So., Omaha
Mike Novotny (GK), Sr., Eastern Illinois
Seth Rinderknecht (D), So., Omaha
Andre Shinyashiki (F), Jr., Denver
Graham Smith (M), Sr., Denver
Jacob Stensson (M), Fr., Denver
Jacob Weiler (D), Sr., Omaha
Drew Whalen (F), Jr., Western Illinois
Second Team
Corey Cantor (M), Sr., Oral Roberts
Junior Chavez (F), Jr., Oral Roberts
Alessandro Corti (D), So., Eastern Illinois
AJ Fuller (D), Sr., Denver
Joseph Ghitis (GK), Sr., Omaha
Cole Nelson (M), Jr., Omaha
Alejandro Pacheco (D), Sr., Western Illinois
Fernando Pacheco (F), Sr., Western Illinois
Zach Tom (M), Jr., Fort Wayne
Alex Underwood (M), Sr., Denver
Oscar Uyamadu (F), Sr., Fort Wayne
All-Newcomer Team
Dante Brigida (F), Fr., Oral Roberts
Brahan Gamarra (M), Sr., Omaha
Miguel Gomez (M), Fr., Omaha
Diego Gutierrez (F), Fr., Omaha
Erik Isaksson (D), Fr., Eastern Illinois
Romain Lopez (M), Jr., Fort Wayne
Ben Marett (D), Fr., Western Illinois
Edgar Mesa (D), So., Eastern Illinois
Stevie Siy (D), Fr., Omaha
Brendan Stangel (GK), Fr., Fort Wayne
Jacob Stensson (M), Fr., Denver
Offensive Player of the Year
Andre Shinyashiki, Denver
Defensive Player of the Year
Scott DeVoss, Denver
Goalkeeper of the Year
Mike Novotny, Eastern Illinois
Newcomer of the Year
Jacob Stensson, Denver
Coach of the Year
Jamie Franks, Denver
