Marshall University Athletics
Men’s Soccer Lands Three on United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-Region Teams
12/16/2019 2:06:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Osmanu, Dolabella and Pita honored
United Soccer Coaches Division I Scholar All-Region Teams
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Awards continue to come in for the Marshall men's soccer team as seniors Illal Osmanu and Paulo Pita, and junior Pedro Dolabella were named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-South Region Teams, the organization announced Monday. Osmanu was named first team while Pita and Dolabella were honored as second team selections.
"I'm extremely proud of all three of these guys," Herd head Chris Grassie said. "Pedro will be a captain for us in the future and is a great example for the younger guys to follow. Illal and Paulo have built a legacy here, they are now role models by which we will judge future Marshall soccer student-athletes."
Osmanu finished his senior season helping to lead Marshall on the defensive end through the best season in program history, all while maintaining a 3.40 cumulative grade point average as a sport management major. The Herd allowed 20 goals in 22 matches including eight shutouts. Osmanu played 2,040 minutes of a possible 2,055, only missing some time at the end of the match against UTRGV dealing with a minor injury. The Accra, Ghana native played every minute of 21 matches this season and 45 matches in his three year Herd career. Osmanu was named All-Conference USA First Team and was a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week in October. The defensive leader was a force in the backfield with his size, speed and knowledge of the game. In just three years, Osmanu finished his Herd career with 59 games, 58 starts, 5,217 minutes and three goals.
Pita was a brick wall for Marshall in his final collegiate season, while carrying a 3.33 GPA as a management major. The redshirt senior played every minute this year for the Herd and allowed just 20 goals in 22 matches. Pita ended the season with a 0.88 goals against average, recorded 74 saves and had a .787 save percentage. His eight shutouts were second most in a season in Herd history and he finished fourth all-time with 11.5 career clean sheets. He saved some of his best performances for the biggest matches with a shutouts against No. 5 Charlotte and No. 15 Kentucky in the regular season, and shutouts over Kentucky and Charlotte again in the C-USA Tournament. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native was a three-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, co-winner of the conference Golden Glove Award (league shutouts) and named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
Dolabella started 20 matches this season and third on the team with seven goals, sporting a 3.86 GPA as an economics major. The junior midfielder highlighted the season scoring the Golden Goal in the double-overtime, Conference USA Tournament Championship victory over Charlotte. He also had four assists and was third on the team with 18 points. Dolabella is a two-time Conference USA Academic Medalist and two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. He will look to make it three-for-three in both categories this spring. The Brasilia, Brazil native has logged 1,667 minutes on the pitch this season. His height, game-knowledge and range has allowed him to be a presence all over the pitch. Dolabella scored a goal and an assist against UAB. He assisted on the game-winning goal against Butler. Dolabella has tallied 12 goals in his Marshall career and seven assists. He has appeared in 57 matches with 52 career starts and 4,328 minutes played.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Awards continue to come in for the Marshall men's soccer team as seniors Illal Osmanu and Paulo Pita, and junior Pedro Dolabella were named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-South Region Teams, the organization announced Monday. Osmanu was named first team while Pita and Dolabella were honored as second team selections.
"I'm extremely proud of all three of these guys," Herd head Chris Grassie said. "Pedro will be a captain for us in the future and is a great example for the younger guys to follow. Illal and Paulo have built a legacy here, they are now role models by which we will judge future Marshall soccer student-athletes."
Osmanu finished his senior season helping to lead Marshall on the defensive end through the best season in program history, all while maintaining a 3.40 cumulative grade point average as a sport management major. The Herd allowed 20 goals in 22 matches including eight shutouts. Osmanu played 2,040 minutes of a possible 2,055, only missing some time at the end of the match against UTRGV dealing with a minor injury. The Accra, Ghana native played every minute of 21 matches this season and 45 matches in his three year Herd career. Osmanu was named All-Conference USA First Team and was a two-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week in October. The defensive leader was a force in the backfield with his size, speed and knowledge of the game. In just three years, Osmanu finished his Herd career with 59 games, 58 starts, 5,217 minutes and three goals.
Pita was a brick wall for Marshall in his final collegiate season, while carrying a 3.33 GPA as a management major. The redshirt senior played every minute this year for the Herd and allowed just 20 goals in 22 matches. Pita ended the season with a 0.88 goals against average, recorded 74 saves and had a .787 save percentage. His eight shutouts were second most in a season in Herd history and he finished fourth all-time with 11.5 career clean sheets. He saved some of his best performances for the biggest matches with a shutouts against No. 5 Charlotte and No. 15 Kentucky in the regular season, and shutouts over Kentucky and Charlotte again in the C-USA Tournament. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native was a three-time C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, co-winner of the conference Golden Glove Award (league shutouts) and named to the All-Conference USA Second Team.
Dolabella started 20 matches this season and third on the team with seven goals, sporting a 3.86 GPA as an economics major. The junior midfielder highlighted the season scoring the Golden Goal in the double-overtime, Conference USA Tournament Championship victory over Charlotte. He also had four assists and was third on the team with 18 points. Dolabella is a two-time Conference USA Academic Medalist and two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. He will look to make it three-for-three in both categories this spring. The Brasilia, Brazil native has logged 1,667 minutes on the pitch this season. His height, game-knowledge and range has allowed him to be a presence all over the pitch. Dolabella scored a goal and an assist against UAB. He assisted on the game-winning goal against Butler. Dolabella has tallied 12 goals in his Marshall career and seven assists. He has appeared in 57 matches with 52 career starts and 4,328 minutes played.
For all of the latest information on the Marshall men's soccer team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdMSoccer, Facebook at Marshall University Soccer and on www.herdzone.com.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules, and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS or Android!
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