Coach of the Year, Five All-Conference Selections for Cazenovia Men’s Soccer

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – The recently announced men’s soccer post-season awards for the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) featured five players from Cazenovia College, as well as Wildcats Head Coach Eric Bonnier.

Bonnier was voted by his peers as the Coach of the Year after leading the Wildcats to the 2009 NEAC Tournament Championship and a place in the NCAA Tournament. It was the first conference post-season championship and NCAA Tournament appearance for the Wildcats, who also set a program record for wins in a season after finishing 12-7-1.

Juniors Matt Gillis (Manlius, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius), Robert Dufort (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) and Ryan Snyder (Dover Plains, NY/Dover Plains) were all voted first team.

Gillis led the Wildcats with 28 points on the season, including a team-high 11 goals and six assists. His 28 points and 11 goals were the fourth-most in a single season in program history. Dufort, a defender, did net one goal in 2009 but, earned his recognition for leading the Wildcats defense all season. Snyder made the first team after recording seven shutouts and allowing an average of only 1.39 goals per game. His 12 wins also set a Cazenovia single-season record.

Junior Matt Vescio (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) and freshman Gregorie Ducasse (Harrison, NY/Harrison) both made the third team.

Vescio, the NEAC Tournament MVP, was held out of the scoring column this season but, did find his teammates to the tune of three assists from his midfield position. Ducasse was tied for second on the team with four goals and also added an assist in his freshman campaign. He was a key component in the Wildcat’s championship run, scoring three of the team’s six goals in three wins.

Coach of the Year, Five All-Conference Selections for Cazenovia Men’s Soccer

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