Conference Carolinas Unveils 2023 Men’s Soccer All-Conference Honors
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Conference Carolinas has released its 2023 men's soccer all-conference honors as chosen by the league’s head coaches.
Davis McBee of Belmont Abbey was named Offensive Player of the Year, Sebastian Garcia of Francis Marion earned Defensive Player of the Year and Thomas Kleinpenning of Young Harris collected Freshman of the Year laurels. John Keatins of Belmont Abbey was selected as Coach of the Year.
McBee, a graduate student from Gastonia, North Carolina, became the first Offensive Player of the Year from Belmont Abbey since the award began in 2012. In 12 conference games this season, McBee led the league with 11 assists and tied with Matt Fitzer of Emmanuel 21 points. His five goals ranked fourth-best on the season. Overall, McBee leads the Conference with 14 assists and is second with 24 points. McBee helped the Crusaders to a 10-4-3 regular-season record and the fourth-seed in the conference championship.
A fifth-year senior from Asuncion, Paraguay, Garcia is the first Patriots men’s soccer student-athlete to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors in Conference Carolinas (Francis Marion joined the conference in the Fall of 2021). Garcia led the Francis Marion defense that allowed just 10 goals in conference play this season and permitted less than one goal per game. The efforts helped the Patriots to the East division title and the top seed in the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship.
Kleinpenning was named Freshman of the Year in the program’s first season as a member of Conference Carolinas. A freshman midfielder from Ulft, Netherlands, Kleinpenning finished the season tied for 10th in points with 11 in 12 league games on four goals and three assists this season. Overall in 2023, Kleinpenning is tied for second on the Mountain Lions with 13 points on five goals and three assists. Young Harris claimed the Southwest division title and were the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament.
In his 13th season as the head of the Crusaders, Keating earned Coach of the Year accolades as he led Belmont Abbey to the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. Picked to finish 10th by league head coaches in the preseason, Keating guided the Crusaders to an 8-2-2 league mark and 10-4-3 regular-season record. This is the second time Keating has earned the honor (2017) and the third time Belmont Abbey has earned the award since it began in 1995 (Daniel Allen, 95).
2023 Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer All-Conference
Offensive Player of the Year
Davis McBee, Belmont Abbey
Defensive Player of the Year
Sebastian Garcia, Francis Marion
Freshman of the Year
Thomas Kleinpenning, Young Harris
Coach of the Year
John Keating, Belmont Abbey
First Team
Forward - Matt Fitzer, Emmanuel
Forward - Edorta Cabieces, Francis Marion
Forward - Jamie Lapsley, Young Harris
Midfielder - Davis McBee, Belmont Abbey
Midfielder - Thomas Kleinpenning, Young Harris
Midfielder - Bradley Binns, Chowan
Defender - Sebastian Garcia, Francis Marion
Defender - Gabriel Verona, Converse
Defender - Harri Lovett, Chowan
Defender - Gray Smith, Lees-McRae
Goalkeeper - Chase Jansen, Chowan
Second Team
Forward - Renan Macuglia, North Greenville
Forward - Pato Padilla, Young Harris
Forward - Gabriel Slemer Lopes, Barton
Forward - Johannes Haden, Converse
Midfielder - Walter Gomez, Belmont Abbey
Midfielder - Nils Schulze, Lees-McRae
Midfielder - Philipp Worner, Francis Marion
Defender - Ricky Cardozo, Converse
Defender - Brett Ramsey, Belmont Abbey
Defender - Sacha De Corte, Young Harris
Goalkeeper - Natxo Faus, Emmanuel
Third Team
Forward - Kalvin Semedo, North Greenville
Forward - Saad Maziane, Young Harris
Forward - Guilherme Fontes, Converse
Midfielder - Vicente Arratia Veit
, Francis Marion
Midfielder - Hugo Jönsson, Francis Marion
Midfielder - Dan Ivanov, Barton
Defender - Charlie Birch, Chowan
Defender - Ivar NaAga, Young Harris
Defender - Feren Nunez, Southern Wesleyan
Defender - Luis Villarreal, Francis Marion
Goalkeeper - Felipe Ramos Peralta, Francis Marion