BOSTON – Vermont men's soccer midfielder
Daniel Pacella was named America East Rookie of the Year and earned All-Conference and All-Rookie honors. In addition to Pacella, six different Catamounts earned America East yearly honors. The league announced its awards on Wednesday (Apr. 13).
RELATED LINKS
America East Release
Pacella becomes the sixth Catamount in program history to receive the honor, joining
Rasmus Tobinski in 2019,
Brian Wright in 2013, Lee Stephane Kouadio in 2005, Nick Azarian in 2000, and Troy Cowell in 1990. The 5-10 midfielder has posted seven shots this season and logged a season-high 110 minutes in a scoreless draw at No. 17 New Hampshire on March 12. The first year also played a key role in the Vermont defense, with the Catamounts posting a league-best three goals allowed in six games this season.
The Montréal, Québec native also earned All-Rookie honors along with classmates
Bjarni Adalsteinsson and
Zach Barrett. Adalsteinsson earned Rookie of the Week honors on Tuesday after registering his first collegiate goal against No. 11 New Hampshire. Barrett deposited his first career goal in a 2-0 win at UAlbany earlier this season. The three first years are the first trio of Catamounts to earn All-Rookie honors since 2006 when T.J. Gore, Rem Keilman, and Nick Mead were named to the All-Rookie team. Pacella was also named to the All-Conference Second Team, and was joined by Vermont defender
Garrett Lillie. Lillie was key in Vermont's league-best defense that registered a .667 shutout percentage this season, which ranks sixth in the country.
For the second straight season, a pair of Catamounts were named to the All-Conference First Team as junior
Alex Nagy and sophomore
Noah Egan were honored by America East. Nagy has recorded a team-high four assists this season, which ranks in a tie for second in the conference. The forward's four points match a team-high for the Catamounts. Egan has one goal on the 2021 spring campaign, which was the game-winning tally at home against NJIT on March 19.
Vermont returns to the pitch on Thursday (Apr. 15) as the No. 2 seed in the America East Semifinals, facing third-seeded NJIT at 7 p.m. in Durham, New Hampshire. The Catamounts and the Highlanders face off in the postseason for the first time in series history. Fans can watch the action on AmericaEast.TV.
