Marcucci and Murphy earn NESCAC Player and Coach of the Year honors

Five members of the Connecticut College’s men’s soccer team were honored with All-NESCAC accolades, including goalkeeper AJ Marcucci ’21, who was named NESCAC Player of the Year, and head coach Kenny Murphy, who was honored as NESCAC Coach of the Year.

Marcucci, who was also named the 2017 NESCAC Rookie of the Year, ranks among the top five goalkeepers in the country with a .928 save percentage and an 0.28 goals against average. He also recorded 11 shutouts this season to bring his career total to 17. In addition, Marcucci is the first player since 2000 to win the league's top rookie and player awards in consecutive seasons.

Murphy piloted the team to a historic start and a 13-3-2 overall record in his 10th season on the sidelines. The Camels only conceded four goals in the regular season, which tied for second nationally, and made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history. Murphy is the first Connecticut College men’s soccer coach to earn Coach of the Year honors since 2000.

Joining Marcucci on the All-NESCAC first team are Uzii Dieng ’19, Ben Manoogian ’19 and Liam Donelan ’21. Dieng, a forward, ranks second on the team in scoring with 13 points on four goals and five assists, while Manoogian contributed six points and most notably two game-winning goals against NESCAC opponents from the midfield position. Donelan has significantly contributed to a back line which only surrendered four goals in over 1,400 minutes during the regular season.

The Camels, who hosted NCAA Tournament matches for the first time ever last weekend, completed its best season in program history this year, setting a school record for wins in a season and winning their first NCAA postseason match. The program graduates seven seniors and is slated to return more than 20 letterwinners next season.