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PELLA— Winning two of the four major awards given by the American Rivers Conference, the Central College men’s soccer team has a strong presence on the all-league squad.
Senior defender Alejo Marcon (junior, Resistencia, Argentina, Pella Christian HS) was named the conference’s Defensive MVP. Head coach Garry Laidlaw and assistants Pauly Apostolopoulos and Zach Jensen were named the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
Marcon started in all eight conference matches, playing all but 14 minutes. He helped the Dutch shutout three conference opponents. His only goal in league play was the game-winning strike in a 1-0 win over conference co-champions Wartburg College.
Sophomores Teddy Apostolopoulos (sophomore, midfielder, Pella), Ian Gredell (sophomore, midfielder, West Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS), and Nate Lampe (sophomore, forward, Newton) were all named to the all-conference team. Cooper Collins (sophomore, midfielder, Clive, Waukee Northwest HS) and Trysten Vasquez (senior, defender, Cedar Rapids, Xavier) were tabbed for honorable mention
During conference matches, Apostolopoulos had a goal and two assist, Gredell had an assist and Lampe had a goal and three assists.
After being predicted by the league coaches to finish in a tie for sixth, the coaching staff guided the Dutch (9-4-5, 4-1-3 American Rivers Conference) to a share of third place in the American Rivers Conference. Central was the only team to beat league co-champion Wartburg 1-0 on October 11.