ALL-PACWEST TEAM
(SAN DIEGO) Freshman midfielder
Jack Merrill was voted PacWest Freshman of the Year, highlighting the All-PacWest awards given to PLNU Men's Soccer on Wednesday.
Merrill is Point Loma's lone representative on the All-PacWest First Team, with sophomore midfielder
Inaki Santamarina, freshman forward
Evan Youngflesh and junior goalkeeper
Jeremy Caringella selected to the Second Team.
Senior midfielder
Cole Friesen and freshman defender
Jacob Rodriguez represent the Sea Lions on the Third Team.
Merrill is the first PacWest Freshman of the Year in program history. He led the team and ranked third in the conference with nine goals on the season, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the penalty spot.
Serving as the pivot in the PLNU midfield, Merrill also paced the Sea Lions in minutes played (1,255). His 19 points tied for fourth most in the conference.
Santamarina earns his second straight Second Team nod, serving as the engine in the team's midfield trio. He tallied three goals and two assists on the season.
Youngflesh ranked ninth in the conference in both goals (5) and points (13) during his phenomenal freshman campaign, recording the second most goals and assists (3) on the team.
Caringella is an All-Conference player for the second time, leading the PacWest in goals against average (1.18) and ranking second in save % (.708).
Friesen received All-PacWest recognition in both of his seasons as a Sea Lion, scoring three goals and tallying two assists this year.
Rodriguez was PLNU's best defensive player in his freshman season, totaling 1,194 minutes played and making 13 starts as a central defender.
Point Loma finished the year with an 8-6-3 overall (5-4 PacWest) record.
