Clayton State placed five players on the 2010 NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) Division II All-Southeast Region team, which was released on Monday. Selected first team for the Lakers was forward Ryan Pugh and defender Igor Lukic, while defender Brett Neilsen, midfielder Matty Phillips and goalkeeper Brian Garcia were both second team All-Southeast Region selections.
This is the second All-Region honor this season alone for Pugh, Lukic, Phillips and Garcia. The Laker quartertet were also selected All-Southeast Region for Daktronics, with Pugh and Lukic garnering All-American honors. That duo is now eligible for NSCAA Division II All-America honors as well. Overall, Clayton State had six players combined make All-Region for both Daktronics and NSCAA, the most in a season for the Lakers.
A junior of Fayetteville, Ga., Pugh was the fourth Laker ever to earn Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors. He is currently ranked second in the Peach Belt in both goals scored (16) and points scored (36) behind fellow Division II All-American selection Nathaniel Foster from Montevallo. The highlight of his season was a hat-trick at Lincoln Memorial.
Pugh also scored twice against North Georgia, Montevallo and Georgia Southwestern during the regular season, and also twice against Lees-McRae in the opening round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. He was a three-time PBC Offensive Player of the Week selection, and is ranked 13th in the nation in goals scored and 16th in points scored.
The 16 goals scored this season by Pugh is the third-most in a season at Clayton State and the 36 points is tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history.
A senior from Sabac, Serbia, Lukic was also a first-team All-Peach Belt Conference. He was one of the anchors to a stellar Laker defense that allowed only 19 goals this season with a 0.82 goals-against average and a Peach Belt-leading 11 shutouts. He scored two goals on the season and was a two-time PBC Defensive Player of the Week.
A senior from Durban, South Africa, Neilson has been a four-year starter on the Laker defense, playing defensive center midfield this season and earning second team All-PBC honors. He scored two goals with two assists for six points on the season and was a three-time PBC Defensive Player of the Week selection.
A junior midfielder from Swindon, England, Phillips was selected first team All-PBC for a second time in his career. He scored four goals and nine assists for 17 points, and tied for the PBC lead in assists. Phillips scored a goal with an assist against Brevard, and scored the game-winning goal in overtime at North Georgia. He finished ranked 15th in the nation in assists.
A junior from Jonesboro, Ga., Garcia continues the strong pipeline of stout goalkeepers at Clayton State. He leads the Peach Belt in in shutouts with 11, and finished second in goals-against average at 0.74. Garcia had a streak this season of 642 minutes without allowing a goal, finished ranked 14th in the nation in goals-against average, and was a two-time PBC Goalkeeper of the Week selection.
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