Nov. 7, 2007

CANYON, Texas - Senior Kenneth Christensen and freshman Ben Everson were named Southwest Soccer Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively, as they and eight teammates were recognized on the All-SSC teams, announced Wednesday.

Christensen and Everson were joined on the first team by junior Tommy Nutter and sophomore Jacob Fynboe Jensen. Seniors Tomer Otor and René Gómez, junior Itamar Keinan, sophomore Aaron Thornton and freshman Shane Taylor all were second team selections. Junior Austin Ridling earned honorable mention status.

Middlesbrough, England, native Everson led the Buffs with 14 goals this season - including four multiple-goal matches - and also added three assists. His goal tally puts him in a tie for sixth on the single-season goal list and eighth in points in a season in WT history.

Senior captain Christensen, from Hedensted, Denmark, was a defensive force throughout the season as he helped the Buffs hold opponents to 15 goals against (0.81 average) and allow only three opponents to score more than once against WT.

Despite missing four games due to injury, Jensen and Nutter still were highly productive on the pitch. Jensen notched a team-high eight assists - including three off corner kicks in the last two games of the regular season - and added seven goals for the second-highest point tally on the team with 22. Nutter, primarily a play maker in the midfield, dished out five assists and added one goal.

Otor's confident play and awareness on the field has made him a vital asset to the defense while he also possesses the ability to attack offensively and create plays, particularly with his service into the box.

Gómez, a leader in the forward position, scored six goals and dished out four assists this season, while Keinan notched five goals and four assists. Thornton had a break-out season as he scored six goals and tallied three assists in his second year in Canyon.

Taylor tallied a program record nine shutouts this season, allowing just 13 goals (0.72 average) and making 53 saves (.803 percentage). His save count places his name eighth in WT history.

Ridling has played solid defense this season as his attitude and effort have helped him step up as a leader for the Buffs. He also is a force in the air, challenging for every ball.

SSC rival Midwestern State had eight players earn first and second team all-conference honors; Daniel Brown was named the Offensive Player of the Year and head coach Doug Elder was named Coach of the year.