NORFOLK, Va. – Josh Thacker, Djibril Doumbia and Ettore Casadei of the ODU men's soccer team garnered All-Conference USA accolades on Tuesday afternoon, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Thacker was named the Freshman of the Year, as well as was named to the All C-USA Second Team and All-Freshman Team. Doumbia was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team, while Casadei joined Thacker on the All-Freshman Team.
Thacker, a true freshman defender, led Old Dominion in game-winners, highlighted by a goal at William & Mary to lift the Monarchs to a 1-0 win. Thacker was second on the team for goals, ranked third on the squad for points, as well as shots on goal. The Hull, England native was fourth on the team for total shots and anchored a defense that allowed one goal or less in five of eight games this year.
Doumbia (Boulder, Colorado) finished the season ranked 17th in the NCAA for saves per game (4.62) and 35th in Division I for total saves (37). His .725 save percentage ranked second in the league, while his 789:56 minutes played in goal were the 92nd most in the country this season. Doumbia ranked fourth in Conference USA for shutouts. He made nine saves in a 1-1 draw at No. 8 Marshall, which was the second most in the C-USA this year. He allowed just one goal or less in five of eight games, while playing every minute of every match this season. Doumbia was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week twice this year.
Casadei, a true freshman, led Old Dominion in goals, shots and shots on goal, while he finished second on the squad for points. Casadei ranked seventh in Conference USA for goals per game. The Ravenna, Italy native scored a goal in the 1-1 draw at UAB, as well as the 1-1 tie against South Carolina.
C-USA Men's Soccer All-Conference Award Winners
Player of the Year
Vitor Dias, Marshall
Offensive MVP
Vitor Dias, Marshall
Defensive MVP
Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
Co-Midfielders of the Year
Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky and Vitor Dias, Marshall
Goalkeeper of the Year
Oliver Semmle, Marshall
Freshman of the Year
Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
Coach of the Year
Chris Grassie, Marshall
Co-Golden Boot Award
Preston Popp, Charlotte and Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
Golden Glove Award
Oliver Semmle, Marshall
All-Conference USA First Team
GK: Oliver Semmle, Marshall
D: Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
D: Leon Jones, Kentucky
D: Nathan Dossantos, Marshall
MF: Joe Brito, Charlotte
MF: Alessandro Campoy, FIU
MF: Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky
MF: Vitor Dias, Marshall
F: Alex Willis, Charlotte
F: Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
F: Jamil Roberts, Marshall
F: Brian Banahan, South Carolina
All-Conference USA Second Team
GK: Johan Peñaranda, FIU
D: Delasi Batse, Charlotte
D: Kareem Riley, FIU
D: Graeme Pratt, Florida Atlantic
D: Robert Screen, Kentucky
D: Collin Mocyunas, Marshall
D: Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
MF: Alonso Coello Camarero, Florida Atlantic
MF: Max Schneider, Marshall
MF: Pedro Dolabella, Marshall
MF: Peter Clement, South Carolina
F: Preston Popp, Charlotte
F: Milo Yosef, Marshall
All-Conference USA Third Team
GK: Austin Mullins, Charlotte
GK: Djibril Doumbia, Old Dominion
D: David Garcia, FIU
D: Daniel Skistad, Florida Atlantic
MF: Joseph Buete, UAB
MF: Grayson Dupont, UAB
MF: Cale Loughrey, UAB
F: Mauro Bravo, FIU
F: Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Kentucky
F: Daniel Evans, Kentucky
F: Christian Kraus, South Carolina
C-USA All-Freshman Team
Jonathan Nyandjo, F, Charlotte
Johannes Vedin, D, FIU
Vasilis Spinos, D, Florida Atlantic
Enzo Mauriz, MF, Kentucky
Jacob Adams, MF, Marshall
Gabriel Alves, D, Marshall
Ettore Casadei, F, Old Dominion
Josh Thacker, D, Old Dominion
Peter Clement, MF, South Carolina
Justin Kopay, D, South Carolina
Christian Kraus, D, South Carolina
Shane De Leon, MF, UAB
Thacker, Doumbia and Casadei Garner All-Conference USA Accolades
