PHILADELPHIA, PA - The men's soccer team held their annual banquet on Sunday, in which parents, family and friends were invited to help honor the team's players on specific achievements throughout the season.
Jeremy Ortiz (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Joey Foster (Tampa, Fl/Sickles) were recognized for their Atlantic 10 awards, Ortiz making First Team All-Conference and Foster making the All-Rookie Team.
Ortiz was awarded by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches' Association of America), making First Team All-Region for his impressive play this season. Juniors Geoff Schaeffer (Blackwood, NJ/Highland Regional) and Walter McMahon (Norristown, PA/Methacton) were also honored for Academic All-Region Scholar awards given by the NSCAA. Schaeffer currently has a 3.56 GPA in accounting, while McMahon maintains a 3.76 GPA in finance.
The team gave out their own awards as well, voted on by the players themselves. Foster was awarded Newcomer of the Year by the team, and Schaeffer and Jim Davis (Pittsgrove, NJ/A.P. Schalick) were awarded Co-Most Valuable Players for their performances this season.
The Bill Wilkinson Academic and Athletic Award, chosen by head coach Pat Farrell and named in recognition of the Explorer Hall of Athletes soccer player and coach who recently passed last July, was given to McMahon and Schaeffer for their excellent work on the field and in the classroom.
The La Salle Men's Soccer Academic Achievement Award was given to six Explorers who maintained a 3.4 GPA or higher and made the Dean's List for the semester. Those players included George Attah-Asante (Philadelphia, PA/Fels), Andrew Bernhard (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield), Kevin Lydic (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee), Walter McMahon, Dan Pfeiffer (Warminster, PA/William Tennant) and Geoff Schaeffer.
Over 85 people were in attendance on Sunday to honor the players and celebrate the team's 2006 season, also taking the time to say goodbye to their two captains, Seniors Jeff Spiker (Yardley, PA/Pennsbury) and Matt Kelly (Philadelphia, PA/La Salle College High School).
Spiker played in 70 games as an Explorer, starting in 40 games and accumulating 19 points, including seven goals. Kelly played in 71 games, starting in 43 of them. This year he was voted to the All-Tournament team of the Drexel Invitational. The Explorers have their work cut out for them in front of the net next season, as both players were key defenders on the field.
The coaches, team, and the University wish Jeff and Matt the best of luck as they move on to bigger and better things after life at La Salle.
