KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Dec. 9, 2015) – The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) announced its 2015 all-region teams on Wednesday and three Panthers were recognized by being named to the All-Southeast Region Team.
Junior
Marvin Hezel was named to the region's first team, while senior
Daniel Gonzalez earned second-team recognition and junior
Luis Betancur was named to the third team.
Hezel appeared in all 20 games for the Panthers as a defender, starting in 18. The native Waldshut, Germany, recorded two goals and two assists for six points on the year. Hezel totaled 10 shots on the season with five SOG (50 percent SOG). He registered three points (1g, 1a) in FIU's 5-1 win over Marshall (9/26) and notched his first goal of the season during the Panthers' 7-2 win at Florida Atlantic (9/21). As the anchor of the Panthers' back line, he has helped FIU recorded a 1.28 goals-against-average, including four shutouts.
Gonzalez appeared in all 20 games for the Panthers at midfield, starting in 17. He finished the 2015 season tied for the team lead in points with 18 (7g, 4a). The Miami native, finished No. 2 on the team in goals scored (7) and ranked tied for No. 6 in C-USA in points. He led the team with 57 total shots, averaging 2.85 shots-per-game (No. 6 in C-USA). Gonzalez also led the team with 24 shots on goal. He recorded multiple points in six games, including two goals for a season-high four points at FAU (9/21). Registering six points (2g, 2a) during the C-USA Championships, Gonzalez earned the tournament's Offensive MVP Award, scoring a pair of game-winners in the quarterfinals and semifinals and setting up the game-winner in the championship game versus Marshall (11/15).
Betancur appeared in 17 games for the Panthers at forward, starting in 12. The Parkland, Fla., native finished the season tied for the team lead in points (18), scoring a squad-best nine goals. He recorded four game-winning goals on the year (No. 24 in the nation) and ranked tied for No. 6 in C-USA in total points. He recorded FIU's first hat trick since 2005 during the Panthers' 7-2 win at FAU (9/21) en route to Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors. Betancur was an important part of FIU's seven-match winning streak during the season (9/3 – 9/29), recording the game-winner in three-straight matches (9/21 – 9/29). He was fourth on the team in total shots (26), with 14 of those shots on net. He converted 64 percent of his shots on goal into scores.
Below is the complete listing of the NSCAA All-Southeast Region Teams.
| First Team |
| Position | First | Last | Class | School | Hometown |
| K | Callum | Irving | Sr. | University of Kentucky | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| D | Marvin | Hezel | Jr. | FIU | Waldshut, Germany |
| D | Michael | Nelson | Sr. | Old Dominion University | Austin, TX |
| D | Jordan | Wilson | Jr. | University of Kentucky | Auchterarder, Scotland |
| M | Brandt | Bronico | Jr. | University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Jamestown, NC |
| M | Danny | Deakin | Jr. | University of South Carolina | Sheffield, England |
| M | Napo | Matsoso | Jr. | University of Kentucky | Louisville, KY |
| M | Chris | Wehan | Jr. | University of New Mexico | Laguna Niguel, CA |
| F | Stephen | Chapman | Jr. | Appalachian State University | Greensboro, NC |
| F | Rimario | Gordon | Jr. | Marshall University | Houston, TX |
| F | Kyle | Parker | Sr. | University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Waxhaw, NC |
| F | Gordon | Wild | Fr. | University of South Carolina Upstate | Steimel, Germany |
| | | | | |
| Second Team |
| Position | First | Last | Class | School | Hometown |
| K | Kyle | Nasta | Sr. | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
| D | Matej | Dekovic | So. | University of North Carolina-Charlotte | Zagreb, Croatia |
| D | Aaron | Guillen | Sr. | Florida Gulf Coast University | El Paso, TX |
| D | Chris | Gurule | Jr. | University of New Mexico | Niwot, CO |
| D | Koty | Millard | Jr. | University of South Carolina | Hopkins, SC |
| M | Lucas | Diniz | Sr. | Stetson University | Goiania, Brazil |
| M | Daniel | Gonzalez | Sr. | FIU | Miami, FL |
| M | Alex | Morrell | Sr. | University of North Florida | Lakeland, FL |
| M | Jamie | O'Grady | Jr. | Hartwick College | Falkirk, Scotland |
| F | Helge | Pietschmann | Sr. | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
| F | Stefan | Stojkovic | So. | University of Kentucky | Halmstad, Sweden |
| F | Edward | Wilding | Sr. | Georgia State University | Felixstowe, England |
| | | | | |
| Third Team |
| Position | First | Last | Class | School | Hometown |
| K | Nathan | Ingham | Sr. | Florida Gulf Coast University | Keswick, Ontario |
| D | Jay | Bolt | Jr. | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
| D | Nick | Edginton | Sr. | Marshall University | Wellington, New Zealand |
| D | Kit | Tregear | Jr. | Hartwick College | Brighton, England |
| M | Ivan | Alvaradop | So. | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN |
| M | Rodrigo | Saravia | Sr. | Florida Gulf Coast University | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| M | Leon | Schwarzer | So. | University of South Carolina Upstate | Muenster, Germany |
| M | Jeffrey | Torda | Sr. | University of South Carolina | Colleyville, TX |
| F | Luis | Betancur | So. | FIU | Parkland, FL |
| F | Jesse | Miralrio | Jr. | Old Dominion University | Arlington, TX |
| F | Ian | Svantesson | Sr. | University of Alabama-Birmingham | Longwood, FL |
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium. About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
