Photo by: Conner Schuh
Apodaca Named Division II Player of the Year
12/1/2017 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — As the last of the postseason accolades come pouring in, California Baptist University's Aidan Apodaca became the first Lancer to be named the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, announced Friday morning. He joined Abe Placito on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America first team, while Hugo Gutierrez picked up Honorable Mention honors.
"I'm so happy for these guys," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "They deserve the recognition they are getting for the roles they played in our season. It's a testament to them but also to our program and how far we have come in a very short time. We hope this can help them as they pursue opportunities to play at the next level, which we know they all three have the ability to do."
The second-ranked Lancers (17-1-2) had their most historic year, especially since joining the NCAA. Not only did CBU win the PacWest outright and host the first and second rounds of the postseason for the first time in program history, the Lancers set multiple single-season records as a team and saw individuals break records as well. CBU set new records for wins in a season (17), most consecutive wins (nine), longest unbeaten streak (19), most goals scored (59), most assists (56), fewest goals allowed (12), best team goals against average (.55) and most shutouts (11).
Apodaca was a major factor in his team's success offensively, finishing the year with a staggering 29 goals. Not only is that the most in CBU's history, but the PacWest's history, and the most scored by a single player in all of NCAA (Divisions I, II and III). He now owns all three scoring records at CBU after setting a new single-game record with five goals in a 5-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene and a new career record with 48 goals over his four years.
The senior striker also set single-season records for points (62), shots (111), multi-goal games (eight), consecutive games with a goal (nine), consecutive games with a point (nine) and hat tricks (three). Apodaca also owns career records in points (108), shots (143), hat tricks (four) and multi-goal games (11).
Placito grabbed his second All-American honor after helping lock down the CBU backline as a centerback. The Perris, Calif., native helped limit opponents to just 47 shots on goal, averaging to just 2.35 shots on goal per game. He also got into the attack, finishing with two goals – including the game-winner in a 2-1 double-overtime victory at Dixie State – and assisted on six others.
Gutierrez also put himself in the CBU record book, tying the single-season record for assists with 10 on the year. He set a new record for most consecutive games with an assist, after assisting in four games in a row this year. His 10 assists put him 12th overall in all of Division II and helped the Lancers lead the division in total assists and assists per game (2.95). The Pico Rivera, Calif., native also scored three times this year, including two game-winners.
Complete D2CCA All-America List
"I'm so happy for these guys," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "They deserve the recognition they are getting for the roles they played in our season. It's a testament to them but also to our program and how far we have come in a very short time. We hope this can help them as they pursue opportunities to play at the next level, which we know they all three have the ability to do."
The second-ranked Lancers (17-1-2) had their most historic year, especially since joining the NCAA. Not only did CBU win the PacWest outright and host the first and second rounds of the postseason for the first time in program history, the Lancers set multiple single-season records as a team and saw individuals break records as well. CBU set new records for wins in a season (17), most consecutive wins (nine), longest unbeaten streak (19), most goals scored (59), most assists (56), fewest goals allowed (12), best team goals against average (.55) and most shutouts (11).
Apodaca was a major factor in his team's success offensively, finishing the year with a staggering 29 goals. Not only is that the most in CBU's history, but the PacWest's history, and the most scored by a single player in all of NCAA (Divisions I, II and III). He now owns all three scoring records at CBU after setting a new single-game record with five goals in a 5-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene and a new career record with 48 goals over his four years.
The senior striker also set single-season records for points (62), shots (111), multi-goal games (eight), consecutive games with a goal (nine), consecutive games with a point (nine) and hat tricks (three). Apodaca also owns career records in points (108), shots (143), hat tricks (four) and multi-goal games (11).
Placito grabbed his second All-American honor after helping lock down the CBU backline as a centerback. The Perris, Calif., native helped limit opponents to just 47 shots on goal, averaging to just 2.35 shots on goal per game. He also got into the attack, finishing with two goals – including the game-winner in a 2-1 double-overtime victory at Dixie State – and assisted on six others.
Gutierrez also put himself in the CBU record book, tying the single-season record for assists with 10 on the year. He set a new record for most consecutive games with an assist, after assisting in four games in a row this year. His 10 assists put him 12th overall in all of Division II and helped the Lancers lead the division in total assists and assists per game (2.95). The Pico Rivera, Calif., native also scored three times this year, including two game-winners.
Complete D2CCA All-America List
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