Trio Of Men’s Soccer Players Earn NSCAA All-Region Honors

For the first time since 2000 three members of the men’s soccer team were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Northeast Conference Team. Those players were sophomore forward Andrew Bulls, junior midfielder Levi Houapeu, and junior defender Chris Williams.

Bulls, the America East Striker of the Year, was named for the NSCAA All-Region First team. He scored 15 goals with 11 assists in his second season at UMBC and finished the regular season second in total points. He became the first Retriever to be named to the first team since Andy Wells in 2001.

Houapeu, the America East Midfielder of the Year and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, was selected to the NSCAA All-Region Second Team. Houapeu finished the regular season top in the nation in total points after a 15 goal and 13 assists junior campaign.

Williams, the team captain, was also selected to the NSCAA All-Region Second Team after a solid season bolstering a young defense. The rest of the defense consisted of a red-shirt sophomore, a true sophomore, two freshman, or a midfielder who moved back because of injuries. Williams value to the team showed at the end of the season when he was injured, and his return in the conference tournament solidified the defense and helped to lead UMBC to a finals birth.

The selections mark the first time a Retriever has been named to the team since Kevin Mezzadra was selected to the All-South Atlantic Region Third Team in 2006.

The trio also joined the company of Guiliano Celenza, Ty Engram, and Wells in 1999 and Celenze, Wells, and Matt Gormley in 2000 as the most Retrievers to be honored by the NSCAA.