Coach Hoffmann (Coach-of-the-Year) and Kajiwara (Newcomer-of-the-Year) Headline All-SCAC Men's Soccer Awards
LAWRENECEVILLE, Ga. – The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) announced the 2017 All-SCAC Men's Soccer Team on Tuesday. Highlighting the league awards for the University of Dallas were head coach David Hoffmann and Nat Kajiwara (Southlake, Texas). Hoffmann won his first and the program's first SCAC Coach-of-the-Year and Kajiwara was named SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year.
Hunter Haugland (Bixby, Okla.) and Eric Haigh (Frisco, Texas) earned All-SCAC First Team Honors. Kajiwara joined Andrew Ciancone (Houston, Texas) on the All-SCAC Second Team. Luke Schwarz (Tucson, Ariz.) and Brady McNamara (San Antonio, Texas) received Honorable Mention nods.
In his 15th season at the helm at the University of Dallas, Hoffmann guided the Crusaders to the program's best finish since joining the SCAC prior to the 2011 season as the team produced a 10-2-2 conference record for a second-place regular season finish and a 13-4-2 (.736 win % tied 4th best in program) overall mark. The overall mark represents a 5 1/2 game improvement from the 2016 season and the team's trip to the SCAC tournament final was a program first.
In a season filled with highlights, Dallas posted a 3-2 overtime win over then No. 4 Trinity on September 15 which snapped the Tigers' NCAA all-divisions record of 47 consecutive home victories. With a career mark of 140-112-21 (.551), Hoffmann is the program's all-time winningest coach in regards to both total wins and winning percentage.
Kajiwara shined his freshman season with the Crusaders. It started in the season opener at home as the forward netted both goals, including the golden goal in a 2-1 overtime victory over George Fox University. Kajiwara led all first-year players with 10 goals (tied for third in the SCAC and tied team leader on UD) and points with 23 (fifth in the SCAC and second on UD). He had three game-winners during the season and earned All-Tournament honors as Dallas made its first-ever appearance in a SCAC soccer tournament final.
A creative attacking player that can make his own shot, Kajiwara was SCAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week in Week 7 when he posted two goals and an assist in a 4-0 win at Austin College. He is the first player in the history of the UD men's soccer program to earn SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year honors. Finally, Kajiwara continues to add to his postseason accolades as he was tabbed United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) All-American last Friday.
Haugland was another leader offensively for the Crusaders this season, as he tied Kajiwara for goals with 10 and finished even for third in the conference for that category. Haugland dished six assists (second on UD) to propel him atop the squad with 26 points and fourth in the league. The sophomore forward notched personal-bests in goals, assists, points, shots (53) and shots on goal (24). He also had a trio of game-winners and was a huge impact in the team's first ever SCAC Tournament 4-1 win over Southwestern University with a pair of goals. He racked up at least one point in nine matches this season. This all-conference honor is the first of his career, but Haugland was previously named last week to the 2017 All-Tournament Team.
Haigh also garnered his first all-conference award. The defender did receive two votes for SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Haigh was praised often this season as the anchor on the back line for the Crusaders. Haigh started all 19 matches and was part of seven shutouts by the squad. The junior was recognized during a week that had two consecutive road shutouts at Centenary College and Austin College over the week of October 9th-15th by receiving SCAC Defensive Player of the Week. Even more impressive for Haigh was his role in moving the ball, as his signature flip-throw was among a couple set pieces to lead to a couple UD goals. Haigh also scored his first career goal on a penalty kick (PK) and finished with four assists – including the team's first scoring play in the conference semifinals.
As mentioned above Kajiwara got listed on the All-SCAC Second Team. Joining him was Ciancone, who was voted to the Honorable Mention group in 2016. Ciancone posted career-bests in goals and assists with four apiece for a personal-high 12 points (fourth on UD). The junior tallied three of his goals in one week, including a pair over Texas Lutheran University in a 3-2 final. Ciancone's performance the week of Oct. 16th-22nd earned him his second career SCAC Offensive Player of the Week Honor. Ciancone did have an assist in Dallas' win over Southwestern in the semifinals, and was also selected to the All-Tournament Team last week.
Rounding out the largest group of Crusaders (six) in the men's soccer program to be named on All-SCAC Teams were Schwarz and McNamara. Schwarz is a two-time All-SCAC winner from the previous two seasons and was also a two-time SCAC All-Tournament Team the most recent pair of campaigns. Schwarz is the lone senior among these award honorees, and was valued for his leadership on the pitch as a captain. Statistically Schwarz had one goal, which was the game-tying one in an eventual draw versus Austin College at home after a PK.
McNamara is the other freshmen noted in these postseason awards. He appeared in all 19 matches and started the last 16 in a row this fall. McNamara picked up one assist in a 4-1 victory against Schreiner University at Crusader Field.
Voting was done exclusively by the head men's soccer coaches of the SCAC. Awards voted for included: SCAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year, Defensive Player-of-the-Year, Newcomer-of-the-Year, and Coach-of-the-Year. Coaches voted for first team and second team – with each voted team consisting of three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards, one goalkeeper, and one at-large selection. A first-team vote was worth two points and a second-team vote was worth one point. Any player who received at least two different votes from the coaches, but did not receive enough votes to earn either first or second team honors, was named Honorable Mention.