Terriers Grab Top Seed, Awards

America East Awards Announced as Conference Playoffs Begin

November 7, 2008

Boston University freshman and Chelsea (Mass.) native Michael Bustamante earned the America East Midfielder and Rookie of the Year honors, becoming just the fourth player in league history to earn multiple end-of-year awards in the same season.

Meanwhile, the Terriers’ coaching staff, led by longtime coach Neil Roberts, received Coaching Staff of the Year recognition. Vermont’s Connor Tobin was named Defender of the Year after leading a defense that allowed just three goals in conference play.

Bustamante finished the regular season tied for third among league leaders with eight assists, including a league-best five in America East play. He added two goals for 12 points, which ranked second on BU. Bustamante joins Matt Watson (UMBC ‘07), New Hampshire’s Chris Banks and Vermont’s Lee Stephane Kouadio as the only players to earn multiple accolades in the same season.

BU's Michael Bustamante won the America East Midfielder and Rookie of the Year honors. (BU Athletics)

Roberts, who is in his 24th season as head coach, led Boston University to its ninth regular-season title during his tenure. Roberts and his Terriers, who are unbeaten over their last seven games with six victories during that span, are in search of their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and eighth America East title in their history. Roberts, who also received Coach of the Year recognition in 1991, 1994, 2001, and 2004, is assisted by Scott Black, Francis Okaroh and Dan Colwell.

Tobin, a first-team all-conference selection in 2007, leads a defense that ranks 12th in the nation in team goals against average. A candidate for Lowe’s Senior Class Award, Tobin was named America East Player of the Week on October 13. His Catamounts have allowed just six scores in their last 18 games against league foes, including a pair of shutouts in the 2007 America East Championship.

Albany’s Claudio Dantas and Steward Ceus rounded out the America East awards, earning Striker and Goalkeeper of the Year accolades, respectively.

Dantas is joined at forward on the all-conference first team by Hartford’s Carlos Villa. Villa leads the league with 11 goals and is second with 25 points.

Bustamante, one of five midfielders on the first team, is accompanied by Binghamton’s Justin Leskow, Hartford’s Ivan Guarin, New Hampshire’s Kyle Urso and Vermont’s Jordan Crasilneck.

Boston University’s Dan Schultz and Binghamton’s Barry Neville, both all-conference selections a year ago, join Tobin on the first team this year.

The awards were announced this week just before the conference tournament begins. BU (9-5-3, 6-1-1 America East), which extended its unbeaten streak to seven games, earned its first regular-season title since 2004, as well as the top seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Albany (12-3-2, 5-1-2) earned the No. 2 seed and a bye in the first round of the championship.

The Catamounts finished tied with Binghamton for third place, but will be seeded fourth due to the Bearcats' 1-0 win over Vermont on October 18.

The Men's Soccer Championship gets underway on Saturday with a pair of quarterfinal contests. Here is the full schedule:

2008 America East Men’s Soccer Championship

Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 8
No. 5 Hartford at No. 4 Vermont, 1 p.m.
No. 6 New Hampshire at No. 3 Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Semifinals – Wednesday, November 12
Winner New Hampshire/Binghamton at No. 2 Albany, 1 p.m.
Winner Hartford/Vermont at No. 1 Boston University, 7 p.m.

Finals – Saturday, November 15 or Sunday, November 16
Semifinals Winners, TBD (at higher seed)

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