Marshall University Athletics
No. 10 Men’s Soccer Scores Numerous Conference USA Honors
4/20/2021 3:26:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Dias named Player of the Year, Offensive MVP & Co-Midfielder of the Year
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The 10th-ranked Marshall men's soccer team was honored on Tuesday with 10 players named to All-Conference teams as well as six superlative awards, the league office announced.
Junior Vitor Dias was named Player of the Year, Offensive MVP and Co-Midfielder of the Year as well as being a member of the All-Conference First Team. Junior goalkeeper Oliver Semmle earned Goalkeeper of the Year, the Golden Glove Award and an All-Conference First Team selection. Fourth-year head coach Chris Grassie earned his second-consecutive Coach of the Year award.
Along with Dias and Semmle, the other First Team selections are senior Jamil Roberts and junior Nathan Dossantos. Four Herd players were honored as All-Conference Second Team selections in redshirt junior Collin Mocyunas, senior Pedro Dolabella, redshirt sophomore Milo Yosef, and sophomore Max Schneider. Two players were named to the All-Freshman Team in Gabriel Alves and Jacob Adams.
Coach Grassie has turned around the Marshall program in a very short period of time, as the Herd has become a national contender. In his first two seasons, the Herd advanced to the C-USA Tournament semifinals before falling to the team that went on to win the title and move on to the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, his third season, Marshall swept the Regular Season and Tournament Titles, earned its first-ever berth to the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the third round and finished ranked No. 11 in the country. In his fourth season, the Herd was ranked in the top 25 all season long with a peak at No. 8, won its second-consecutive conference title and is going back to the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 10 in the nation. His record at Marshall is 41-24-9, good for a 61.4 winning percentage and has 140 wins overall in his coaching career.
Dias stepped up tremendously for Marshall in his second year in Huntington. After not being named to any All-Conference teams in 2019, Dias finished the regular season as the Herd's leader in goals with six and points with 15. The Brasilia, Brazil native also led the conference in points, and tied for the lead in points per game (1.50) and goals. Dias started the season on fire with two goals and two assists against WVU Tech, then two days later credited with the game-winning goal against ETSU. He was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Dias scored another goal at Akron and then both of Marshall's goals in a 2-0 win over South Carolina to start conference play. Dias has excellent ball-handling skills and smooth moves. He didn't take many shots but he made them count when he did. Dias has 18 total shots with 11 on goal and of course six resulting in scores.
Semmle spent his first season in Huntington this year and stepped right in to fill some big shoes left by the graduation of Paulo Pita. Semmle recorded all eight shutouts this season, which led the conference, and allowed just five goals while recording 15 saves. His 0.38 goals against average was also tops in C-USA and fifth in the NCAA. It is also the lowest goals against average in program history since Daniel Withrow's (2009-12) 0.52 in 2012, and is currently a team and conference single-season record. Semmle tallied a season-high four saves in the championship match against Charlotte on Sunday. He recorded two saves each at Akron, against FIU, at Kentucky and at West Virginia. Semmle currently sports a .750 save percentage and is 8-1-2 this season with 1,175 minutes in the net.
In his final season at Marshall, Roberts continued to help push the Herd's offensive pressure throughout the year. The Langport, England native has two goals and leads the team with four assists. Roberts is second all-time in program history with 19 career assists, reaching the milestone assisting on the game-winner against Florida Atlantic. He is second on the team in total shots with 34 and had 10 shots on goal. Roberts uses his speed and slick moves to get around defenders and open things up near the goal for his teammates. Roberts was named to the All-Conference second team in 2019 after leading the league in assists with 10, which was also good for 10th in the NCAA. He was drafted 77th overall in the third round of the MLS Superdraft by Sporting Kansas City. Roberts has played in 67 matches with 57 starts for Marshall and has 16 career goals, including seven game-winners.
Dossantos has been quite a find from the transfer portal for the Herd. He came to Huntington in the spring of 2020 after spending two years at Duquesne and stepped right into the starting lineup. The centerback helped lead an incredible defensive backfield that held Marshall's opponents to just 71 total shots and only 21 on goal in 13 matches, an average of just 1.62 shots on goal per game. The Herd's defense also has three matches this year not allowing the competition a single shot on goal. Dossantos was named league Defensive Player of the Week three times being honored on March 16, April 13 and 20. He has logged 1,171 minutes on the pitch so far, playing every minute of 12 matches. Dossantos assisted on one goal against WVU Tech and scored the game-winning, golden goal in the 92nd minute versus FIU.
Mocyunas earned his first All-Conference team recognition after a great season at centerback. The Morgantown, W.Va., native was named to the 2019 All-Tournament team and is a three-time member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll. Mocyunas, alongside of Dossantos, was instrumental in the Herd's stifling defense this season. He has logged 1,121 minutes on the pitch playing every minute of 10 matches including the last nine-straight. He helped hold three opponents in Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic and UAB to zero shots on goal. Mocyunas was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on March 23 after being tasked with defending reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, Eythor Bjorgolfsson of Kentucky and not allowing him to take a single shot as the Herd won.
Dolabella has been very instrumental in the rise of the men's soccer program at Marshall as he, along with Roberts, were a part of Coach Grassie's first recruiting class in 2017. The Brasilia, Brazil native was also a second team selection in 2019 as well as the C-USA Tournament Offensive MVP after scoring the golden goal in the Championship match. This season, Dolabella has started and played in 11 matches with 880 minutes. He is tied for second on the team with three assists and scored his first goal of the year in the Championship match on Sunday to give Marshall a 2-0 lead. The 6-4 midfielder fired a long-range shot from well outside the 18-yard box that hit off the inside of the crossbar. He has also been a star in the classroom as a three-time recipient of the Academic Medal with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better.
Despite not scoring as much as he did in 2019, Yosef still made his presence known on the pitch with his constant speed and pressure. Opposing defenses also put a focus on Yosef which allowed things to open up for his teammates. The Aachen, Germany native was the 2019 Offensive MVP and the Freshman of the Year. This season, Yosef scored two goals and was tied for second on the team with three assists. He led the team with 46 shots and 20 on goal. Yosef also led the conference in total shots and shots per game (3.91). He scored two goals against WVU Tech and assisted on the game-winner against Florida Atlantic. Yosef also assisted on Dolabella's strike against Charlotte in the Championship match on Sunday.
Schneider has been a very steady force in the midfield for the Herd whether helping out on defense or on the attack with his size, speed and leaping ability. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2019 as well as the Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Cologne, Germany native has played in 12 matches with 11 starts and has logged 1,019 minutes so far this season. After missing the season-opener, Schneider scored his lone goal of the season with a hard strike from about 15 yards out in his first match back against WVU Tech. Schneider can regularly been seen running passed or leaping above defenders to win challenges and keep the ball in Marshall's possession. He tallied one assist, coming against Old Dominion, and has 20 total shots with nine on goal.
Alves made an immediate impact in his first season at Marshall. The 6-1 left back helped the Herd's stiff defensive back line as well as charging the ball back to the attacking third. Alves has played in all 13 matches with 12 starts with 1,105 minutes on the pitch. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native scored his first career goal in his first collegiate action with a header against Ohio Valley. Alves uses his size, speed, and moves to cut off the opposing attack and get the ball back to the offense. He has played every minute of 10 matches this season including the last three-straight. Alves has taken 12 total shots with four on goal so far this year. He first a season-high three shots at then No. 11 Kentucky.
Adams used patience and perseverance to break his way into the Herd's lineup and made an impact. After redshirting the 2019 season, Adams has appeared in 12 matches with three starts. The Johnstown, Pa., native is one of the first players off the bench for the top-ranked Herd. Adams has filled in well in the midfield or on defense, and has totaled 363 minutes on the pitch so far this season. His first collegiate action was in the opener against Ohio Valley. Adams earned his first start against WVU Tech in the following match. He played 31 minutes off the bench in the win over ETSU and assisted on a goal in the 65th minute to put Marshall up 2-0, for his first career assist. Adams also earned starts against Bowling Green and Florida Atlantic.
The 10th-ranked Herd's next contest will be May 2 against the Fordham Rams in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gillette Field in Wilson, N.C.
Superlative Awards
Player of the Year – Vitor Dias, Marshall
Offensive MVP – Vitor Dias, Marshall
Defensive MVP – Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
Co-Midfielders of the Year – Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky | Vitor Dias, Marshall
Goalkeeper of the Year – Oliver Semmle, Marshall
Freshman of the Year – Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
Coach of the Year – Chris Grassie, Marshall
Co-Golden Boot Award – Preston Popp, Charlotte | Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
Golden Glove Award – Oliver Semmle, Marshall
All-Conference First Team
GK: Oliver Semmle, Marshall
D: Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
D: Leon Jones, Kentucky
D: Nathan Dossantos, Marshall
MF: Joe Brito, Charlotte
MF: Alessandro Campoy, FIU
MF: Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky
MF: Vitor Dias, Marshall
F: Alex Willis, Charlotte
F: Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
F: Jamil Roberts, Marshall
F: Brian Banahan, South Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
GK: Johan Peñaranda, FIU
D: Delasi Batse, Charlotte
D: Kareem Riley, FIU
D: Graeme Pratt, Florida Atlantic
D: Robert Screen, Kentucky
D: Collin Mocyunas, Marshall
D: Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
MF: Alonso Coello Camarero, Florida Atlantic
MF: Max Schneider, Marshall
MF: Pedro Dolabella, Marshall
MF: Peter Clement, South Carolina
F: Preston Popp, Charlotte
F: Milo Yosef, Marshall
All-Conference Third Team
GK: Austin Mullins, Charlotte
GK: Djibril Doumbia, Old Dominion
D: David Garcia, FIU
D: Daniel Skistad, Florida Atlantic
MF: Joseph Buete, UAB
MF: Grayson Dupont, UAB
MF: Cale Loughrey, UAB
F: Mauro Bravo, FIU
F: Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Kentucky
F: Daniel Evans, Kentucky
F: Christian Kraus, South Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Jonathan Nyandjo, F, Charlotte
Johannes Vedin, D, FIU
Vasilis Spinos, D, Florida Atlantic
Enzo Mauriz, MF, Kentucky
Jacob Adams, MF, Marshall
Gabriel Alves, D, Marshall
Ettore Casadei, F, Old Dominion
Josh Thacker, D, Old Dominion
Peter Clement, MF, South Carolina
Justin Kopay, D, South Carolina
Christian Kraus, D, South Carolina
Shane De Leon, MF, UAB
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!
Junior Vitor Dias was named Player of the Year, Offensive MVP and Co-Midfielder of the Year as well as being a member of the All-Conference First Team. Junior goalkeeper Oliver Semmle earned Goalkeeper of the Year, the Golden Glove Award and an All-Conference First Team selection. Fourth-year head coach Chris Grassie earned his second-consecutive Coach of the Year award.
Along with Dias and Semmle, the other First Team selections are senior Jamil Roberts and junior Nathan Dossantos. Four Herd players were honored as All-Conference Second Team selections in redshirt junior Collin Mocyunas, senior Pedro Dolabella, redshirt sophomore Milo Yosef, and sophomore Max Schneider. Two players were named to the All-Freshman Team in Gabriel Alves and Jacob Adams.
Coach Grassie has turned around the Marshall program in a very short period of time, as the Herd has become a national contender. In his first two seasons, the Herd advanced to the C-USA Tournament semifinals before falling to the team that went on to win the title and move on to the NCAA Tournament. In 2019, his third season, Marshall swept the Regular Season and Tournament Titles, earned its first-ever berth to the NCAA Tournament, advanced to the third round and finished ranked No. 11 in the country. In his fourth season, the Herd was ranked in the top 25 all season long with a peak at No. 8, won its second-consecutive conference title and is going back to the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 10 in the nation. His record at Marshall is 41-24-9, good for a 61.4 winning percentage and has 140 wins overall in his coaching career.
Dias stepped up tremendously for Marshall in his second year in Huntington. After not being named to any All-Conference teams in 2019, Dias finished the regular season as the Herd's leader in goals with six and points with 15. The Brasilia, Brazil native also led the conference in points, and tied for the lead in points per game (1.50) and goals. Dias started the season on fire with two goals and two assists against WVU Tech, then two days later credited with the game-winning goal against ETSU. He was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Dias scored another goal at Akron and then both of Marshall's goals in a 2-0 win over South Carolina to start conference play. Dias has excellent ball-handling skills and smooth moves. He didn't take many shots but he made them count when he did. Dias has 18 total shots with 11 on goal and of course six resulting in scores.
Semmle spent his first season in Huntington this year and stepped right in to fill some big shoes left by the graduation of Paulo Pita. Semmle recorded all eight shutouts this season, which led the conference, and allowed just five goals while recording 15 saves. His 0.38 goals against average was also tops in C-USA and fifth in the NCAA. It is also the lowest goals against average in program history since Daniel Withrow's (2009-12) 0.52 in 2012, and is currently a team and conference single-season record. Semmle tallied a season-high four saves in the championship match against Charlotte on Sunday. He recorded two saves each at Akron, against FIU, at Kentucky and at West Virginia. Semmle currently sports a .750 save percentage and is 8-1-2 this season with 1,175 minutes in the net.
In his final season at Marshall, Roberts continued to help push the Herd's offensive pressure throughout the year. The Langport, England native has two goals and leads the team with four assists. Roberts is second all-time in program history with 19 career assists, reaching the milestone assisting on the game-winner against Florida Atlantic. He is second on the team in total shots with 34 and had 10 shots on goal. Roberts uses his speed and slick moves to get around defenders and open things up near the goal for his teammates. Roberts was named to the All-Conference second team in 2019 after leading the league in assists with 10, which was also good for 10th in the NCAA. He was drafted 77th overall in the third round of the MLS Superdraft by Sporting Kansas City. Roberts has played in 67 matches with 57 starts for Marshall and has 16 career goals, including seven game-winners.
Dossantos has been quite a find from the transfer portal for the Herd. He came to Huntington in the spring of 2020 after spending two years at Duquesne and stepped right into the starting lineup. The centerback helped lead an incredible defensive backfield that held Marshall's opponents to just 71 total shots and only 21 on goal in 13 matches, an average of just 1.62 shots on goal per game. The Herd's defense also has three matches this year not allowing the competition a single shot on goal. Dossantos was named league Defensive Player of the Week three times being honored on March 16, April 13 and 20. He has logged 1,171 minutes on the pitch so far, playing every minute of 12 matches. Dossantos assisted on one goal against WVU Tech and scored the game-winning, golden goal in the 92nd minute versus FIU.
Mocyunas earned his first All-Conference team recognition after a great season at centerback. The Morgantown, W.Va., native was named to the 2019 All-Tournament team and is a three-time member of the Commissioner's Honor Roll. Mocyunas, alongside of Dossantos, was instrumental in the Herd's stifling defense this season. He has logged 1,121 minutes on the pitch playing every minute of 10 matches including the last nine-straight. He helped hold three opponents in Bowling Green, Florida Atlantic and UAB to zero shots on goal. Mocyunas was named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on March 23 after being tasked with defending reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week, Eythor Bjorgolfsson of Kentucky and not allowing him to take a single shot as the Herd won.
Dolabella has been very instrumental in the rise of the men's soccer program at Marshall as he, along with Roberts, were a part of Coach Grassie's first recruiting class in 2017. The Brasilia, Brazil native was also a second team selection in 2019 as well as the C-USA Tournament Offensive MVP after scoring the golden goal in the Championship match. This season, Dolabella has started and played in 11 matches with 880 minutes. He is tied for second on the team with three assists and scored his first goal of the year in the Championship match on Sunday to give Marshall a 2-0 lead. The 6-4 midfielder fired a long-range shot from well outside the 18-yard box that hit off the inside of the crossbar. He has also been a star in the classroom as a three-time recipient of the Academic Medal with a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better.
Despite not scoring as much as he did in 2019, Yosef still made his presence known on the pitch with his constant speed and pressure. Opposing defenses also put a focus on Yosef which allowed things to open up for his teammates. The Aachen, Germany native was the 2019 Offensive MVP and the Freshman of the Year. This season, Yosef scored two goals and was tied for second on the team with three assists. He led the team with 46 shots and 20 on goal. Yosef also led the conference in total shots and shots per game (3.91). He scored two goals against WVU Tech and assisted on the game-winner against Florida Atlantic. Yosef also assisted on Dolabella's strike against Charlotte in the Championship match on Sunday.
Schneider has been a very steady force in the midfield for the Herd whether helping out on defense or on the attack with his size, speed and leaping ability. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2019 as well as the Commissioner's Honor Roll. The Cologne, Germany native has played in 12 matches with 11 starts and has logged 1,019 minutes so far this season. After missing the season-opener, Schneider scored his lone goal of the season with a hard strike from about 15 yards out in his first match back against WVU Tech. Schneider can regularly been seen running passed or leaping above defenders to win challenges and keep the ball in Marshall's possession. He tallied one assist, coming against Old Dominion, and has 20 total shots with nine on goal.
Alves made an immediate impact in his first season at Marshall. The 6-1 left back helped the Herd's stiff defensive back line as well as charging the ball back to the attacking third. Alves has played in all 13 matches with 12 starts with 1,105 minutes on the pitch. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native scored his first career goal in his first collegiate action with a header against Ohio Valley. Alves uses his size, speed, and moves to cut off the opposing attack and get the ball back to the offense. He has played every minute of 10 matches this season including the last three-straight. Alves has taken 12 total shots with four on goal so far this year. He first a season-high three shots at then No. 11 Kentucky.
Adams used patience and perseverance to break his way into the Herd's lineup and made an impact. After redshirting the 2019 season, Adams has appeared in 12 matches with three starts. The Johnstown, Pa., native is one of the first players off the bench for the top-ranked Herd. Adams has filled in well in the midfield or on defense, and has totaled 363 minutes on the pitch so far this season. His first collegiate action was in the opener against Ohio Valley. Adams earned his first start against WVU Tech in the following match. He played 31 minutes off the bench in the win over ETSU and assisted on a goal in the 65th minute to put Marshall up 2-0, for his first career assist. Adams also earned starts against Bowling Green and Florida Atlantic.
The 10th-ranked Herd's next contest will be May 2 against the Fordham Rams in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gillette Field in Wilson, N.C.
Superlative Awards
Player of the Year – Vitor Dias, Marshall
Offensive MVP – Vitor Dias, Marshall
Defensive MVP – Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
Co-Midfielders of the Year – Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky | Vitor Dias, Marshall
Goalkeeper of the Year – Oliver Semmle, Marshall
Freshman of the Year – Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
Coach of the Year – Chris Grassie, Marshall
Co-Golden Boot Award – Preston Popp, Charlotte | Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
Golden Glove Award – Oliver Semmle, Marshall
All-Conference First Team
GK: Oliver Semmle, Marshall
D: Patrick Hogan, Charlotte
D: Leon Jones, Kentucky
D: Nathan Dossantos, Marshall
MF: Joe Brito, Charlotte
MF: Alessandro Campoy, FIU
MF: Marcel Meinzer, Kentucky
MF: Vitor Dias, Marshall
F: Alex Willis, Charlotte
F: Ivan Mykhailenko, Florida Atlantic
F: Jamil Roberts, Marshall
F: Brian Banahan, South Carolina
All-Conference Second Team
GK: Johan Peñaranda, FIU
D: Delasi Batse, Charlotte
D: Kareem Riley, FIU
D: Graeme Pratt, Florida Atlantic
D: Robert Screen, Kentucky
D: Collin Mocyunas, Marshall
D: Josh Thacker, Old Dominion
MF: Alonso Coello Camarero, Florida Atlantic
MF: Max Schneider, Marshall
MF: Pedro Dolabella, Marshall
MF: Peter Clement, South Carolina
F: Preston Popp, Charlotte
F: Milo Yosef, Marshall
All-Conference Third Team
GK: Austin Mullins, Charlotte
GK: Djibril Doumbia, Old Dominion
D: David Garcia, FIU
D: Daniel Skistad, Florida Atlantic
MF: Joseph Buete, UAB
MF: Grayson Dupont, UAB
MF: Cale Loughrey, UAB
F: Mauro Bravo, FIU
F: Eythor Bjorgolfsson, Kentucky
F: Daniel Evans, Kentucky
F: Christian Kraus, South Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Jonathan Nyandjo, F, Charlotte
Johannes Vedin, D, FIU
Vasilis Spinos, D, Florida Atlantic
Enzo Mauriz, MF, Kentucky
Jacob Adams, MF, Marshall
Gabriel Alves, D, Marshall
Ettore Casadei, F, Old Dominion
Josh Thacker, D, Old Dominion
Peter Clement, MF, South Carolina
Justin Kopay, D, South Carolina
Christian Kraus, D, South Carolina
Shane De Leon, MF, UAB
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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