For Immediate Release
December 7, 2011
Franklin Pierce and Saint Rose Each Have Two First Team Honorees
South Easton, Mass. – Eight soccer-playing student-athletes representing Northeast-10 Conference schools were recently named All-Americans. Four men's and four women's players were named to the Daktronics All-American teams.
The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team, the 2011 national champions, had four players honored, as conference player of the year Christina Cuffari and NCAA Tournament most valuable offensive player Carmelina Puopolo were both named first team All Americans.
Also representing the Golden Knights were Sydney Bond and Meagan McKinney who each were named third team All Americans.
Cuffari, who was also recognized as the 2011 East Region Player of the Year, was one of just six student-athletes to appear on the team for a second straight season. Puopolo set a school record this season with 51 points (19 goals, which also tied a Saint Rose record, and thirteen assists).
Men's conference champion, and eventual national semifinalist, Franklin Pierce University had three student-athletes recognized as Vinny Papageorgiou, Tom Reilly (pictured), and Diego Tabares were all selected by the voters. Reilly and Tabares were tabbed first team selections, while Papageorgiou earned third team honors.
For Reilly, it's the second straight year he's been named to the first team and Papageorgiou earned third team honors for the second consecutive year, as well.
Southern New Hampshire University's Chris Tsonis rounded out the Northeast-10 representation as he was named an Honorable Mention All American.
Sports Information Directors from NCAA Division II schools and conferences selected the three Daktronics All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first-team All-Region picks advancing to the national ballot.
This is the sixth year Daktronics has sponsored the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer All-America and All-Region teams. The 39 student-athletes that were honored as All-Americans represent 21 different institutions.
The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 5,500 student-athletes. Each year, 4,000 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
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