IRVING, Texas - For the first time in 22 years of Conference USA Men’s Soccer, Charlotte swept all seven specialty awards, which included six All-Conference honorees. All nine schools are represented on the All-Conference USA awards list as selected by a vote of the league’s head men’s soccer coaches.
 
Charlotte senior Brandt Bronico was voted the Conference USA Player of the Year, Offensive MVP and was the recipient of the Golden Boot Award. Bronico ranked in the top-five of all major offensive statistical categories in the league, which include points (21, t-1st), goals (eight, t-2nd), assists (five, 4th) and game-winning goals (four, 3rd). The High Point, North Carolina, native was awarded the Golden Boot for registering the most goals in conference play with eight. Bronico was also named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
 
Teammate senior Luke Waechter garnered Defensive MVP honors after leading one of the top backlines in the nation, as well as earning C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 24.  
 
Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco was awarded C-USA Freshman of the Year honors and the Golden Glove Award. Panicco had a stellar freshman campaign, leading the conference in goals against average (0.42, 3rd NCAA), save percentage (.870, 3rd NCAA) and shutouts with 10. Panicco’s league-leading four clean sheets earned him the Golden Glove. The freshman was also tabbed C-USA Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19.
 
Head coach Kevin Langan was named C-USA Coach of the Year this season after leading the 49ers to their fourth C-USA regular-season title. Under Langan's guidance, Charlotte went 12-2-2 and 7-1 in C-USA action. As regular-season champion, Charlotte is the No. 1 seed for the 2016 C-USA Men's Soccer Championship and earns the only bye of the tournament, advancing directly to the semifinals. Charlotte was ranked every week in the NSCAA poll, and achieved the No. 5 spot on the Sept. 20 and Nov. 5 release.
 
Charlotte senior defender Matej Dekovic was tabbed to the All-Conference First Team after starting 15 of the 49ers 16 games on the backend, while also tallying three goals and dishing out a pair of assists. Dekovic also garnered C-USA Defensive Player of the Week laurels on Oct. 31.
 
For the second time in as many years, Kentucky is represented on the All-C-USA First Team by seniors Napo Matsoso and Jordan Wilson. Matsoso started in 16 of Kentucky’s 17 matches at midfield, leading the team with 20 points on eight goals, three of which were game-winners, and four assists. All of Matsoso’s scores came in multi-goal game performances. Wilson anchored a Wildcat back line that boasts a shutout percentage of 0.53 (12th NCAA) and a team goals-against average of 0.61 (10th NCAA). The defender also contributed on offense, scoring the game-winning goal against Charlotte and Old Dominion and adding an assist on the season.
 
New Mexico received two All-C-USA First Team nods in seniors Niko Hansen and Chris Wehan. Hansen started in all 16 matches that he played, leading the team in goals (10) and total points (21). Hansen tied for league-lead in game-winning goals with five which was good for ninth in the country. Hansen was also the consensus Sept. 20 National Player of the Week, earning the distinction from the College Soccer News. Wehan started all 17 matches for the Lobos, tallying six goals and two assists on the year. Two of Wehan’s goals came in game-winning fashion.
 
FIU boasts a pair of selections on the All-C-USA First Team in junior Paul Marie and sophomore Santiago Patino. Patino was the catalyst for the Panthers offense, scoring eight goals with three game-clinchers. Patino’s third game-winner came on the last match of the regular season against UAB, earning the Panthers the No. 3 seed in the 2016 C-USA Championship.
 
Rounding out the All-C-USA First Team is South Carolina senior Danny Deakin. Deakin earns his second consecutive first-team nod after leading his squad in points (20, t-3rd C-USA), goals (seven, t-5th C-USA) and assists (six, t-2nd C-USA). The senior also tied for the most game-winners in the conference with five, which was good for ninth in the nation.
 
Coaches also selected an All-Conference USA Second and Third Team as well as an All-Freshman squad.
 
The 2016 Conference USA Men's Soccer Championship kicks off Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex in Huntington, West Virginia. Charlotte, FIU, Kentucky, New Mexico, Old Dominion, South Carolina and UAB are set to compete in the seven-team, three-day championship. All three quarterfinal matches and both semifinal games will be streamed on the CUSA TV. The championship match is set for Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. EST and will be streamed on ESPN3.
 
2016 C-USA MEN’S SOCCER AWARDS
Player of the Year
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
 
Offensive MVP
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
 
Defensive MVP
Luke Waechter, D, Charlotte
 
Freshman of the Year
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
 
Golden Boot Award
Brandt Bronico, MF, Charlotte
 
Golden Glove Award
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
 
Coach of the Year
Kevin Langan, Charlotte
 
All-Conference First Team
F: Santiago Patino, FIU
F: Niko Hansen, New Mexico
F: Danny Deakin, South Carolina
MF: Brandt Bronico, Charlotte
MF: Paul Marie, FIU
MF: Napo Matsoso, Kentucky
MF: Chris Wehan, New Mexico
D: Matej Dekovic, Charlotte
D: Luke Waechter, Charlotte
D: Jordan Wilson, Kentucky
GK: Elliot Panicco, Charlotte
 
All-Conference Second Team
F: Luis Betancur, FIU
F: Jason Fitzgerald, Florida Atlantic
F: Bjorn Gudjonsson, South Carolina
MF: Trevor Starcher, Marshall
MF: Jesse Miralrio, Old Dominion
MF: Cole Stringer, Old Dominion
MF: Kurtis Turner, South Carolina
MF: David Valverde, UAB
D: Charlie Reymann, Kentucky
D: Tom Smart, New Mexico
GK: Joe Kuzminsky, UAB
 
All-Conference Third Team
MF: Maxi Rodriguez, Charlotte
MF: Donald Tomlinson, FIU
MF: Chris Gurule, New Mexico
MF: Niko Klosterhalfen, Old Dominion
MF: Julian Veen Uldal, South Carolina
MF: Koty Millard, South Carolina
D: Juan Benedetty, FIU
D: Alex Bumpus, Kentucky
D: Arthur Duchesne, Marshall
D: Peyton Ericson, South Carolina
D: Ive Burnett, South Carolina
D: William White, UAB
GK: William Pyle, South Carolina
 
All-Freshman Team
Elliot Panicco, GK, Charlotte
Ryan Spaulding, MF, Charlotte
David Longo, D, FIU
Joris Ahlinvi, F, FIU
JJ Williams, F, Kentucky
Connor Probert, F, Kentucky
Tom Smart, D, New Mexico
Matt Constant, D, New Mexico
Sebastian Hauret, MF, Old Dominion
Julian Veen Uldal, MF, South Carolina
Luca Mayr, F, South Carolina
Eder Mora, MF, UAB
Massimo Ferrin, F, UAB