2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Major Awards and All-MAAC Teams Announced
Edison, N.J. (April 21, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2020-21 Men’s Soccer All-MAAC Team and Major Award winners, as voted by 10 of the league’s coaches. *
Monmouth University headlines the postseason announcement with three major awards, headlined by 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year George Akampeke, 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Sean Murray, and 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer BSN Sports Coach of the Year Robert McCourt. The Hawks also had five student-athletes named to the All-MAAC Team.
George Akampeke becomes the third Monmouth student-athlete to be selected as MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, joining David Acuna Camacho (2015) and Matt Jeffery (2013,2014). Starting in seven games this season, Akampeke helped guide Monmouth to a MAAC Championship and their first NCAA appearance since 2014. Akampeke was also named to the All-MAAC Team this year and was a member of the 2017 MAAC All-Rookie Team. Joining Akampeke on the All-MAAC team are teammates Ben Zakowski, Luke McBeth, 2020-21 MAAC Championship MVP Julian Gomez, and Sean Murray.
Three players will share the 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Award honors. Monmouth’s Sean Murray, Quinnipiac’s Jared Mazzola, and Fairfield’s Gordon Botterill, all three were also named to the All-MAAC Team. Murray started in eight games this season and made 27 saves and helped the Hawks to a 5-2-1 record. In the postseason Murray posted clean sheets in the semifinal and championship game and only allowed one goal in the quarterfinals on a penalty kick. After being named to the All-MAAC Second Team in 2019 Mazzola followed it up this season by leading Quinnipiac to its first regular season title since 2016. Mazzola started in six games this season making 18 saves, allowing only four goals, and posting two clean sheets. Botterill earns his second MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors after taking home the award in 2018. Adding to his impressive collegiate career Botterill was named to the All-MAAC Second Team in 2017 and 2019 and the All-MAAC First Team as well as United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team in 2018.
Dominic Laws earns his second straight Offensive Player of the Year becoming the first student-athlete to take home the award in back-to-back seasons since Jamie Darvill of Iona took home the award in 2008 and 2009. Laws led the MAAC in shots on goal per game with 1.71, was tied for the lead in goals with five, and finished second in points with 11 (5g, 1a) only behind his All-MAAC Teammate Jordan Jowers who had 12 points (4g, 4a). The senior was named to his third All-MAAC Team this season after being a unanimous selection for the All-MAAC First Team in 2019, along with being named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men’s All-East Regional Second-Team, All-ECAC Team as well as the 2018 All-MAAC Second Team.
The 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Co-Rookies of the Year are Niagara’s Asher Barnes and Fairfield’s Thomas Drillien. Drillien becomes Fairfield’s sixth Rookie of the Year selection tying the program with Saint Peter’s and Iona for the most in the MAAC. Drillien made an immediate impact with the Stags as he started in all eight games, tallying 18 shots, seven on goal, and scoring two goals. Barnes becomes the third Niagara student-athlete to earn Rookie of the Year honors and first since Carl Haworth in 2008. Appearing in seven games for the Purple Eagles, Barnes found the back of the net four times on his seven shots. Barnes four goals came in two games this season as he scored twice against Canisius on March 25, and twice against Monmouth on April 8.
The 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer BSN Sports Coach of the Year is Monmouth’s Robert McCourt. Taking home his second MAAC Coach of the Year award with his first coming back in 2015, and McCourt owns Monmouth’s only MAAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year awards. McCourt has been at the helm of Monmouth’s Men’s Soccer program since 2004 and has a 167-98-55 all-time record. He led the Hawks to a 5-2-1 record, and their second MAAC Title, and fourth championship game appearance. Monmouth will be making their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance under McCourt.
See below for the full list of honorees:
| 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer Major Awards |
| Award |
Player |
School |
| Offensive Player of the Year |
Dominic Laws |
Saint Peter’s |
| Defensive Player of the Year |
George Akampeke |
Monmouth |
| Co-Goalkeeper of the Year |
Sean Murray |
Monmouth |
| Co-Goalkeeper of the Year |
Jared Mazzola |
Quinnipiac |
| Co-Goalkeeper of the Year |
Gordon Botterill |
Fairfield |
| Co-Rookie of the Year |
Asher Barnes |
Niagara |
| Co-Rookie of the Year |
Thomas Drillien |
Fairfield |
| BSN Sports Coach of the Year |
Robert McCourt |
Monmouth |
| 2020-21 MAAC Men’s Soccer All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Class |
School |
Position |
| Brage Aasen |
Sophomore |
Quinnipiac |
Forward |
| Dominic Laws |
Senior |
Saint Peter’s |
Forward |
| Julian Gomez |
Sophomore |
Monmouth |
Forward |
| Ben Zakowski |
Sophomore |
Monmouth |
Forward |
| Jordan Jowers |
Senior |
Saint Peter’s |
Midfielder |
| Matt McGlinchey |
Senior |
Fairfield |
Midfielder |
| Paulo Soares |
Senior |
Quinnipiac |
Midfielder |
| Luke McBeth |
Sophomore |
Monmouth |
Midfielder |
| George Akampeke |
Fifth Year |
Monmouth |
Defense |
| Jordan Acevedo |
Senior |
Niagara |
Defense |
| Henry Weigand |
Sophomore |
Quinnipiac |
Defense |
| Cormac Pike |
Junior |
Fairfield |
Defense |
| Luke Allen |
First Year |
Quinnipiac |
Defense |
| Sean Murray |
Redshirt Junior |
Monmouth |
Goalkeeper |
| Jared Mazzola |
Senior |
Quinnipiac |
Goalkeeper |
| Gordon Botterill |
Senior |
Fairfield |
Goalkeeper |
Keep up with all MAAC soccer action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and by searching #MAACSoccer.
*Marist was unable to compete this season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and therefore abstained from voting.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40
th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.