Apaches News
Fri, Jan 15, 2010 - [Men's & Women's Soccer]
By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph

The Tyler Junior College soccer program, which produced two national champions last season, has been rewarded with several individual honors.

The men's team has three first-team All-Americans while the women's team has one.
 
On the men's side, sophomore goalkeeper Juan Robles and sophomore defender Shaunovan Wilson received first-team honors by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Wilson and teammate Kenny Mena, a sophomore forward, also made the first team on the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America list.

Robles, a Robert E. Lee graduate, saved his best for last with a shutout in the national final -- a shootout win over Georgia Perimeter.

"He had already had a great season … and he made a couple of really big saves in the national championship game to help us win it," said TJC head coach Steve Clements, who was named the NSCAA West Region Coach of the Year on Thursday at the Coaches Convention in Philadelphia.

Wilson, from Jamaica, captained TJC's defense and was also good at penalty kicks. He had seven goals on the season, including four in the playoffs en route to being named the national tournament MVP.

"He had a wonderful two seasons," Clements said. "He was without question the defensive leader. Good speed, sound player, mentally tough. He was kind of the spark plug of the team."

Mena, from Brooklyn, N.Y., had 11 goals during his sophomore year. Mena scored his final goal of the season in a regional final victory over San Jacinto.

"Mena had a great year," Clements said. "He grew up a lot in two years. He came in as a freshman not all that fit. He had all the tools to be good and it was his work in the offseason and spring that put him over the top."

Meanwhile, Cara Newton was voted an NSCAA first-team All-American for the Apache Ladies. The sophomore from England, who finished with 16 goals for the season, was named the most valuable forward of the national tournament.

"She was the type of player that the team fed off," said TJC women's coach Corey Rose. "Technically, she would do some things that would blow you away. She had a bicycle kick in the final game, and to everybody it was special, (but) to her it was average. She really grasped the leadership role as a sophomore."

Newton also made the NJCAA first team.

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TJC had three players make second-team All-America. For the men, it was sophomore midfielder Kareem Freitas (NSCAA) and Robles (NJCAA).

"Freitas had an outstanding two years," Clements said. "Last year he played more of a defensive role. This year we played him out of position into more of an attacking role. He handled it well. He was recognized for his hard work and good play."

Apache Ladies freshman forward Claudia Saucedo made the NSCAA second team. The Floridian scored 15 goals on the season.

"She's only been playing for about four years," Rose said. "The natural ability she has is just awesome. She's always wanted to try some new stuff and that makes her game get better and better."