Eight Mariners Named to NECC All-Conference Team

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Eight members of the Mitchell College men's soccer team have been named to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) All-Conference team, including freshman James Gleason (Old Lyme, Conn.), who was named Rookie of the Year.  Mitchell's Dean Roberts was named NECC Co-coach of the year after leading his squad to a perfect 6-0 regular season conference record and an overall record of 8-9.

Gleason tallied three goals and three assists in his first collegiate season for a total of nine points.  He was second on the team with 22 shots and third with game-winning goals (1).  Gleason's season total for assists ranked him fifth among all players in the NECC.

Three Mariners landed on the All-Conference First team including sophomore Joel Blancaflor (Haddam, Conn.), Josh Griffo (Middletown, Conn.), and Justin Curtis (Fairfield, Conn.).  Blancaflor tallied six goals for a total of 12 points during the 2008 campaign.  He was third on the team with 33 shots on goal and second on the team with two game-winning goals.  Blancaflor's season statistics were good enough to rank him among the top scorers in the conference.  He was ranked fourth in the NECC in goals per game, fifth in points per game, and sixth in goals scored.

Griffo, a midfielder, tallied five goals for a total of 10 points during the 2008 season.  He ranked first on the team with 42 shots, and his three game-winning goals were also tops on the squad.  Griffo was ranked eighth in the NECC in shots per game, sixth in shots attempted.

Curtis, a defender, tallied one goal and four assists for a total of six points during the 2008 campaign.  He served as a team captain and also contributed one game-winning goal.  Curtis' season total for assists ranked him third among all players in the NECC.  He was also honored as a member of the NECC All Tournament team.

Adam Deltgen (Norwich, Conn.) and Kevin Patterson (Narragansett, R.I.) wer e tabbed as Second team All NECC selections.  Deltgen  tallied one goal and one assist for a total of three points during the season.  Both Deltgen and Patterson played key roles in anchoring a defense that allowed 41 goals on the season. 

Finally, freshman goalkeeper Andy Hall (Natick, Mass.) was named NECC All-Conference Honorable Mention.  He allowed 33 goals in 16 games and had a save percentage of .705.  Hall also recorded two shutouts during the 2008 campaign.  Hall's season statistics were good enough to rank him among the top goalkeepers in the conference.  He was ranked second in the NECC in shutouts, fourth in saves, and fifth in save percentage.