Three Cavaliers Named to All-ACC Team

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Three Virginia men’s soccer players were selected to the 2011 All-ACC Team, announced Thursday by the conference office. Forward Will Bates (Jr., Chester, Va.) earned a spot on the first team, while Brian Ownby (Sr., Glen Allen, Va.) and Brian Span (So., Somers, N.Y.) each were voted to the second team.

In addition the Cavaliers’ three all-conference honorees, UVa’s Ryan Zinkhan (Fr., Fredericksburg, Va.) was named to the 2011 ACC All-Freshman Team. The All-ACC teams were compiled following a vote of the league’s nine head coaches.

A first-time All-ACC selection, Bates finished with 14 goals this year, which currently ranks second in the ACC behind Duke’s Andrew Wenger (17 goals). With four assists in 2011, Bates totaled 32 points, which is second to Wenger’s 42 points. Bates also ranks ninth nationally in total goals. He suffered a season-ending injury Oct. 21 at Virginia Tech and has missed the Cavaliers’ last four matches.

Ownby was named to the All-ACC team for the second straight year; he was a first-team pick in 2010. Despite battling injuries for much of the season, Ownby has put up good numbers with six goals and a pair of assists for 14 points. The reigning ACC Co-Player of the Week, Ownby has two goals and two assists in UVa’s last two victories.

After earning a spot on the 2010 All-Freshman Team, Span ascended to the All-ACC second team this year. He owns seven goals and a team-high five assists for 19 total points. He ranks ninth in the ACC in goals and 10th in assists. He ranks second on the team to Bates in goals and points but has recorded four goals since Bates went down with his injury.

Zinkhan leads the Virginia freshmen in goals (4), assists (3) and points (11). In playing in all 19 games this year, Zinkhan has thrived all over the field, spending time at forward, midfield and defense at various points throughout the season. He has recorded a pair of multiple-point performances in ACC wins this year, notching a goal and an assist against Maryland as well as NC State.

The Cavaliers (12-6-1) play top-seeded North Carolina (15-2-2) in the semifinals of the ACC Men’s Soccer Championship at 5:30 p.m. Friday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Third-seeded Duke will face seventh-seeded Boston College in the second semifinal. Both games will be webcast on ESPN3. The championship game will be played at noon Sunday.

2011 All-ACC Men’s Soccer Team

First Team

Second Team

Offensive Player of the Year – Andrew Wenger, Duke

Defensive Player of the Year – Matt Hedges, North Carolina

Freshman of the Year – Mikey Lopez, North Carolina

Coach of the Year – Carlos Somoano, North Carolina

2011 ACC All-Freshmen Men’s Soccer Team