Winthrop, Mass. – The Albertus Magnus College men's soccer team had six players earn All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) honors in 2016 as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. The Falcons landed one player on the first team, two on the second team and three on the third team.
Senior back Alexis Garcia-Romero (West Haven, Conn.) represented Albertus Magnus on the first team, seniors Alex Zapata (Hamden, Conn.) and Matt Mueller (Cheshire, Conn.) received second-team distinction and senior Ben Colter (Guilford, Conn.) landed on the third team along with juniors Justyn Broderick (Orange, Conn.) and Ritchy Jean Pierre (Fairfield, Conn.).
The GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team was also announced on Monday afternoon and senior midfielder Milton Calderon (New Haven, Conn.) represented the Falcons on the squad.
Garcia-Romero closes out an impressive career with Albertus Magnus by earning All-GNAC recognition for the fourth time. He was named to the second team three times before landing on the first team this fall. He bookends a solid career that saw him earn GNAC Rookie of the Year honors four seasons ago. Alexis is a highly skilled and fast center back. He is very dangerous in the Falcons attack from the back. Made transition to the back from his forward position this year and has been instrumental in the team's success. He recorded one game-winning goal this season that came in conference play. Anchored a Falcon backline that posted four shutouts and surrendered just over one goal per game in conference play. The Albertus Magnus defense ranked fourth in the conference in both goals allowed and goals-against average. He ends his career 11th in program history with 64 points. Alexis is the son of Guillermo Garcia & Concepcion Romero and is majoring in Sports Management.
Zapata ends a stellar career with the Falcons by earning all-conference accolades for the fourth time in his career. As a freshman in 2012, he was tabbed as the league's Rookie of the Year and he has received Third Team All-GNAC honors each of the last three seasons. Highly skilled and technical forward for the Falcons. Dangerous on set pieces and the team's best offensive player. After missing the first few games of the season, he emerged with 12 points thanks to five goals and two assists. Zapata had one game-winning goal this season. Eight of his points came in conference action. Both of his assists came in a GNAC win against Emmanuel. He ranks fifth all-time in program history in points, sixth in goals and eighth in assists. Alex is the son of Diego Zapata and is majoring in Criminal Justice.
Mueller had a breakout senior season for the Falcons, racking up a career-high seven goals to earn league-wide recognition for the second straight season after landing on the third team as a junior. Very fast, strong and skilled central midfielder. Mueller is the hardest working player on the team according to Head Coach Jim Bernardo and he also led the squad in goals this season. He had two game-winning goals, both of which came in conference play. Of his seven goals, three came in GNAC play. Mueller scored goals in back-to-back games twice this season. He netted markers in three of the team's final five games. Matt is the son of Jackie and Eric Mueller and is majoring in accounting.
Broderick had his most productive season with Albertus Magnus in 2016 and earned end of the year all-league accolades for the first time. Physical and skilled center forward for the Falcons. Very quick and dangerous in the air this season. One of team's most dangerous players on the offensive end. Broderick led the team in points this fall with 17, five of which came in conference play. He also led the squad with three game-winning goals, highlighted by scoring twice in overtime. He has scored in back-to-back games twice this season. His best performance of the year was a two-goal showing against Emmanuel in GNAC action. Justyn is the son of Gardner and Kathleen Broderick and is majoring in Business Management.
Jean Pierre had arguably his strongest season with the Falcons this year to pick up all-conference honors for the first time in his career. Skilled and quick central/outside midfielder for the squad. Was one of the key players in the Falcon offense as a junior up front. He had one game-winning goal in conference play. On the year he scored four goals and added three assists. He registered at least one point in each of the first three games of the season. Ritchy is the son of Margareth Jean Pierre and is majoring in Business.
Colter ended his career on a high note to rack up all-conference distinction for the first time this year. He is one of two Falcon defenders to land on one of the All-GNAC teams this fall. Strong, physical and skilled center back. Leader of the defensive unit as a senior alongside Garcia-Romero. Dangerous on set pieces and very strong in the air. Anchored a Falcon backline that posted four shutouts and surrendered just over one goal per game in conference play. The Albertus Magnus defense ranked fourth in the conference in both goals allowed and goals-against average. Ben is the son of Peter and Kathy Colter and is majoring in marketing.
The speedy Calderon ended his career on a high note in 2016, setting new career-highs in games played, games started and shots. Milton is the son of Jhon J. Molina and is majoring in Criminal Justice.
The men's team saw its season come to an end with a loss on the road to Suffolk in the GNAC Quarterfinals in late October. Albertus Magnus finished the fall with a 9-8-1 overall record and qualified for the GNAC Tournament for the 21st time having gone 16-18-4 with a pair of conference titles to their name.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
For the latest information on the men's soccer team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
