Hatters Dominate ASUN Postseason Awards

Stetson men's soccer was formally presented its ASUN Conference regular-season champion trophy last Saturday. On Wednesday, the Hatters reaped the rewards for their hard work as the league office announced its post-season award winners.

Joseph Melong (Goalkeeper of the Year), Deniz Dogan (Freshman of the Year) and Kyle Gookins (Coach of the Year) were the big winners for the Hatters, but they weren't the only ones. Ian McCauley joined Dogan and Melong on the all-conference first team, and Elvis Menayese joined Dogan on the ASUN All-Freshman team.

Melong is the second straight Hatter and second overall to earn ASUN Goalkeeper of the Year honors. The junior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, made the most of his first season as a starter, posting an ASUN-leading 0.95 goals-against average and turning in five shutouts. As the Hatters enter the postseason Melong also leads the ASUN in save percentage (.780) and is second in shutouts.

As good as he was all season, Melong was even better in ASUN play, allowing just three goals and recording a 0.46 goals-against average.

Dogan, from Aachen, Germany, is Stetson's first ASUN Freshman of the Year. He was head-and-shoulders above all ASUN freshmen this season, ranking third in the conference with seven goals and finishing fourth in points with 15. Dogan was second in conference play with four goals and his two game-winning goals in league play led the conference.

Gookins is the third Hatter head coach to be honored as the league's top man, joining Sean Murphy (2001) and Ernie Yarborough (2014). Hired less than a year ago after a stellar career as an assistant at Charlotte, Gookins took a four-win team which missed the postseason a year ago -- and was picked to finish last this year -- and turned them into the ASUN's top squad.

It wasn't all easy for Gookins and the Hatters. Stetson opened the 2017 season with a 1-4 record but turned the bad start around and have gone 6-2-2 since, including 4-0-2 in conference play.

McCauley, a junior from Seffner, Fla., earns a spot on the ASUN first team after spearheading a Stetson defensive effort which has seen the Hatters allow just three goals in conference play and post five shutouts overall. McCauley has played in 13 of Stetson's 15 games, playing every minute of every game. His only goal this season was a game-winner at North Florida.

Menayese appeared in 16 games for the Hatters, making 13 starts. While the forward from Cardiff, Wales, has yet to score a goal he did have a pair of assists during the regular season.

The Hatters are the No. 1 seed for the ASUN Tournament, which begins this weekend in DeLand with a quarterfinal matchup between Jacksonville and North Florida on Friday at the Athletic Training Center. Stetson will meet the winner of the game in a semifinal at 1 p.m., on Sunday.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.

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Players Mentioned

#3 Ian McCauley: D; 5' 10"; Junior

#12 Joseph Melong: GK; 6' 0"; Junior

#11 Elvis Menayese: F; 5' 11"; Freshman

#26 Deniz Dogan: MF; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Ian McCauley
: 5' 10"; Junior
: D

#12 Joseph Melong
: 6' 0"; Junior
: GK

#11 Elvis Menayese
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: F

#26 Deniz Dogan
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: MF

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Hatters Dominate ASUN Postseason Awards

Players Mentioned

#3 Ian McCauley

#12 Joseph Melong

#11 Elvis Menayese

#26 Deniz Dogan

Players Mentioned

#3 Ian McCauley

#12 Joseph Melong

#11 Elvis Menayese

#26 Deniz Dogan