SDSU MEN'S SOCCER COLLECTS FIVE NSCAA ALL FAR WEST REGION HONORS

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Aztecs’ five all-region selections represent program high

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo: Midfielder Pablo Pelaez is the first Aztec to garner first-team all-Far West Region accolades since 2011.

December 6, 2016 (San Diego) - After completing one of its most successful seasons ever, the San Diego State men’s soccer team had five players named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I All-Far West Region Team, the organization announced Tuesday. Midfielder Pablo Pelaez was a first-team selection; forward Travis Nicklaw and defender Kyle Adams earned second-team honors, while goalkeeper Adam Allmaras and defender Matt Callahan received third-team recognition.

The five Aztecs represent the most all-region honorees in program history, surpassing the 1988 squad, which boasted four picks in Kyle Whittemore, Eric Wynalda, Jeff Betts and Marcelo Balboa. In addition, SDSU tied national semifinalist Stanford for the highest number of selections out of any school in the Far West Region this season.

A redshirt freshman, Pelaez made a tremendous impact in his first year on Montezuma Mesa, becoming the first Aztec to garner first-team all-region accolades since Daniel Steres accomplished the feat in 2011. The San Diego native started all 18 matches he played in, finishing with seven points on two goals and three assists.  Pelaez notched his first career goal at Stanford on Oct. 13, and recorded his first game-winner in an SDSU uniform in the waning seconds of regulation at No. 11 Washington on Nov. 6, to help the Aztecs complete their first-ever season sweep of the Huskies. He was also ranked No. 21 on Top Drawer Soccer’s midseason freshman top 100 list in October.

Nicklaw, who just completed his senior campaign, paced the team with five goals en route to his first career all-region honor.  The University City High alumnus and Guam national team member tallied four game-winners in memorable victories over No. 1 Akron (Sept. 2), crosstown rival San Diego (Sept. 25), No. 16 Washington (Oct. 2) and California (Oct. 23). Nicklaw, who finished with was selected Pac-12 Player of the Week on two occasions and landed a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on Sept. 6. In Pac-12 matches, he tied for the conference lead with 29 shots and 2.90 shots per game.

Adams collected his second straight all-region certificate after receiving third-team distinction as a freshman a year ago. The Auckland, New Zealand, native was one of two Aztecs to start all 19 matches in 2016, logging a team-high 1,717 minutes. Along with Callahan and Allmaras, Adams contributed greatly to an SDSU defense that recorded a league-high 11 shutouts and ranked third nationally in shutout percentage (.610) and 10th in goals against average (.622) at the end of the regular season. He also assisted on teammate Casey Macias’ goal against Stanford on Oct. 20, as the Scarlet and Black snapped the Cardinal’s five-match winning streak with a 1-1 draw at home.

Allmaras, who picked up his first career all-region nod, ended the season as the Pac-12 leader in goals against average (0.63), save percentage (.856) and saves (77). With his 11 shutouts, which rank second on the school’s single-season list, the La Costa Canyon High product moved into a tie for third place on SDSU’s all-time charts with 21 clean sheets overall. Not to be outdone, Allmaras was twice named Pac-12 Player of the Week earlier this season and earned a spot on Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week on Oct. 4.

One of the Aztecs’ co-captains during his senior season on The Mesa, Callahan received his second consecutive all-region award after earning third-team honors as well in 2015. The Newton, Mass., native, started all 18 matches he appeared in and ranked third on the team with 1,626 minutes, finishing with four points on a goal and two assists. Callahan was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Oct. 3 after helping SDSU to a 1-0-1 start to open Pac-12 play. The Aztec defender turned in an all-round performance in two contests, scoring his first goal of the year in a 1-1 draw vs. Oregon State, while contributing to a 1-0 shutout of No. 16 Washington after the Huskies entered the match with a conference-best 19 goals. He also had two assists against league foes this year, including one on the game-winner at California on Oct. 16.

San Diego State finished the 2016 campaign with a 9-4-6 overall record after securing its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2006. The Aztecs, who finished the regular season ranked 19th by the NSCAA and 15th by Soccer America, posted a 3-2-2 record against teams ranked in either of the aforementioned Top-25 polls during the year.

Complete all-Far West Region teams can be found at: http://www.nscaa.com/web/Awards/Recipients/2016_NSCAA_NCAA_Division_I_Men_s_All-Far_West_Region_Teams.aspx


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