Sophomore forward Juan Guerra (Caracas, Venezuela) was named to the All-Conference USA First Team, it was announced Tuesday afternoon. Guerra becomes the first Golden Panther to be named 1st Team All C-USA since Lucas Scudeler received the nod in 2005.
Senior defender Raoul Voss (Mulehim, Germany) joins Guerra in receiving all-conference honors, as he was voted to the Third Team. Freshman forward Steven Jair Cabas (Miami, Fla.) was also recognized as he was selected to the All-Freshman squad. Cabas' teammate Christian Caporaletti (Miami, Fla.) received All-Freshman honors last season.
Guerra led the Golden Panthers on offense, scoring five goals and assisting on another. Twice this season Guerra tallied two scores in a game; the first coming against Illinois Chicago at home and then doing it again on the road against UAB to lead FIU to a come-from-behind win. The victory over UAB propelled FIU over the Blazers in the C-USA Championship Tournament seeding.
Voss led a stingy FIU defense that gave some of the nation's best programs fits. A consummate professional and a team captain who leads by example, Voss was instrumental in holding national powerhouse Connecticut, who finished the season ranked 2nd in the NSCAA/adidas poll, scoreless for almost 90 minutes. The FIU defense also held No. 23 USF and Michigan State, who were ranked as high as 16th this season, to just one goal apiece.
Cabas had his best game of the season against Central Florida when FIU picked up its first victory of the season. The freshman forward scored two goals en route to giving FIU a key conference win, and he finished the season second on the team in points with nine on three goals and three assists.
Bruno Guarda of SMU was named C-USA Player of The Year, while Kentucky defender Barry Rice took home Defensive Player of The Year honors.
Voting for All-Conference honors is done by the coaches of the nine teams participating in C-USA men's soccer.
Championship Tournament
The Golden Panthers finished the season with a disappointing record of 3-13-2 (2-6-0 C-USA), but still have a chance to salvage the season as they head to Birmingham, Ala. for the C-USA Championship Tournament.
FIU earned the number seven seed in the bracket and will face C-USA Player of The Year Bruno Guarda and the defending C-USA champion No. 5 SMU in the opening match of the tournament this Wednesday at Noon. The Mustangs beat the Golden Panthers 2-0 when they met earlier this season in Dallas.
The winner of the opening match will face the winner of the game between the No. 3 seed Kentucky Wildcats and No. 6 seeded Marshall.
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