Kelan LeBlanc, Jace Bailey, Earn USA South Awards

Kelan LeBlanc named to USA South First Team West Division. Jace Bailey named to All-Sportsmanship Team. 

USA South 2021 Men's Soccer Awards Announced

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The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2021 All-Conference awards for men's soccer. Individually, the Maryville trio of Ndubueze Henry, Craig McIlwraith, and Pepe Fernandez were named Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year, respectfully, while William Peace's Jacob Smith grabbed Goalkeeper of the Year. Additionally, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school who their coach felt displayed the best sportsmanship this season.

All awards are voted on by the men's soccer coach at each institution. The divisional team voting is completed only by those coaches in the particular division. The all-conference and individual award voting is completed by all coaches.

Henry, a junior forward from Lagos, Nigeria, becomes just the second Maryville men's soccer student-athlete to be named USA South Player of the Year (Caleb Lucas, 2016). Henry currently leads the League in assists with 13 while his 29 points rank second, and eight goals are seventh-best. Additionally, Henry has scored four game-winning goals which is the second-highest total in the Conference. Against USA South opposition-only, Henry accumulated 13 points on four goals and a USA South-best five assists. For his efforts this fall, Henry was named First Team All-Conference and First Team West Division at forward while also being named USA South Player of the Week once.

McIlwraith, a Peachtree City, Georgia sophomore midfielder, playing his first year of collegiate soccer, becomes the first Scot men's soccer student-athlete to be named USA South Rookie of the Year. McIlwraith has totaled 13 points on five goals and three assists with one game-winning goal. In USA South games-only, McIlwraith ranked in the top-ten in scoring with eight points on three goals and two assists. In addition to his individual accolades, McIlwraith earned First Team All-Conference and First Team West Division honors at the midfield position and was named USA South Rookie of the Week once.

Smith, a Mooresville, North Carolina senior goalkeeper, becomes the first Pacer men's soccer student-athlete to be named Goalkeeper of the Year. He currently has posted an 8-1-1 record which equates to a Conference-best .850 winning percentage. Smith has a 1.14 goals against average, a .700 save percentage, and has accumulated three shutouts. In Conference-only action, Smith tied for the most League wins with five, notching a 5-1-1 record with two shutouts. For his efforts this fall, Smith was named the First Team All-Conference and First Team East Division goalkeeper while also being named USA South Defender of the Week once.

Fernandez, in his 33rd year as Maryville's head coach, earns his fourth USA South Coach of the Year honor in the sport of men's soccer. His Scots did not drop a Conference contest for the first time as members of the USA South (since 2012), finishing 5-0-1 in the West Division, earning the program's fourth regular season crown. Maryville currently boasts a 12-2-1 overall record, which extends the streak of ten-plus win seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened campaign) under Fernandez to eight. Next up for the Scots is the USA South Tournament where they are the top-seeded team in the West Division and look to capture their third title (2016, 2018).

The 2021 USA South Men's Soccer All-Conference Team: