ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum College men's soccer team placed seven players on the 2009 All-South Atlantic Conference teams, including first team selections Anteneh Lemma and Scott Lucky. Five Pioneers were named to the second team, including forwards Marc Joseph and Andres Jarquin, midfielder Lucas Paulini, and defenders Nick Rich and Phillip Hagen.

Lemma, a senior from Stockholm, Sweden, has led the Pioneers to a 9-6-2 record this season, entering Sunday's championship match of the Food Lion SAC Tournament as the team leader in goals (10), assists (8) and points (28). The 5-7, 145-pound midfielder has scored a team-high three match-winners this season, including the deciding penalty kick in Friday's 2-1 win over Carson-Newman in the semifinal round of the SAC Tournament. A two-time NSCAA/adidas All-Region selection, Lemma has posted totals of 25 goals, 26 assists and 76 points in his career with the Pioneers.

Lucky, a senior from Orangevale, Calif., has been a critical component of the Pioneers for the past two seasons, posting totals of seven goals, 18 assists and 32 points in 38 matches with Tusculum. The 6-0, 175-pound midfielder led the Pioneers with 13 assists last season, earning Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America Honorable Mention honors. This is Lucky's first All-SAC First Team selection, and the second time he has been honored on the All-Conference teams, garnering second team recognition in 2008.

Joseph has been a force in the attacking third for the Pioneers this season, as the sophomore forward is currently tied with Lemma for the team-lead in goals with 10. A native of Delray Beach, Fla., Joseph has started all 17 matches this season, netting a pair of match-winners to rank second on the team. The 5-10, 162-pound forward scored a career-high two goals in TC's 3-2 win over Catawba on Oct. 21, netting the match-winner late in the second half to propel the Pioneers to victory.

Jarquin, a native of Guatemala City, Guatemala, has scored five goals and tallied seven assists this season for the Pioneers, scoring a pair of match-winners en route to an All-SAC Second Team selection. The 5-8, 150-pound forward propelled the Pioneers to an early season victory at Milligan on Sep. 9, netting the match-winner in extra time to push TC to a 2-1 victory.

Paulini earned All-SAC honors for the third consecutive season, garnering second team recognition after being named to the first team the last two campaigns. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Paulini tallied three goals and four assists this season to propel the Pioneers to their eighth consecutive winning campaign, moving into the top 10 on the program's all-time assists list with 26 career helpers. The 2007 SAC Freshman of the Year recorded his best performance of the season against Mars Hill on Oct. 7, scoring two goals, including the match-winner, and adding an assist in TC's 4-1 win over the Lions.

Rich, a sophomore from Kent, England, has played all over the pitch for the Pioneers this season, spending the majority of the campaign on the back line. The 2008 SAC Freshman of the Year dished out a SAC-best nine assists this season, which also ranks among the national leaders. Rich made the switch to the back line early this season after beginning the campaign as a forward, starting the last 14 matches at right back for the Pioneers.

Hagen had a tremendous influence on the back line for the Pioneers this season, starting all 18 matches and helping TC hold its opponents to a 1.50 goals against average while posting four clean sheets. A senior from Guatemala City, Guatemala, Hagen notched a goal and two assists this season to push his career totals to four goals and three assists in his two campaigns with the Pioneers.

Tusculum now awaits word on a bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament. The field will be announced later this weekend.

- TC -

2009 South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Team

FIRST TEAM
Forward - Omar Cooke, Carson-Newman
Forward - Robert Hill, Carson-Newman
Forward - Dave Bailey, Lenoir-Rhyne
Forward - Junior Nyemb, Wingate
Midfielder - Gary Higgins, Lenoir-Rhyne
Midfielder - Aaron McKenna, Lincoln Memorial
Midfielder - Anteneh Lemma, Tusculum
Midfielder - Scott Lucky, Tusculum
Midfielder - Luke Mulholland, Wingate
Defender - Adam Thomas, Carson-Newman
Defender - Matthew Finlay Carson-Newman
Defender - Jon Abraham, Lenoir-Rhyne
Defender - Lucas Pereira, Lincoln Memorial
Defender - Tom Poole, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Mike Watkins, Lincoln Memorial

SECOND TEAM
Forward - Willian Moura, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Fernando Silveira, Lincoln Memorial
Forward - Adrian Ochoa, Newberry
Forward - Andres Jarquin, Tusculum
Forward - Marc Joseph, Tusculum
Midfielder - Everardo Flores, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Richard Marquetty, Carson-Newman
Midfielder - Lucas Paulini, Tusculum
Defender - Nick Rich, Tusculum
Defender - Phillip Hagen, Tusculum
Defender - Jack Vundum, Wingate
Goalkeeper - Jordan Moore, Carson-Newman

COACH OF THE YEAR - Allen Vital, Carson-Newman College
PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Luke Mulholland, Wingate University
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR - Adrian Ochoa, Newberry College
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE - Junior Nyemb, Wingate University