NSCAA 2011 NCAA Division III All-New England

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Lesley men's soccer sent a program-record three players to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III All-New England Team.

Senior defender Christian Domingo (Granada Hills, CA/Delphi), junior midfielder Ari Sinanis (Guilford, CT/Guilford) and sophomore forward Ali Sozeri (Istanbul, Turkey/Miller School) were honored by the NSCAA, the organization announced.

"This is a big deal for these student-athletes to be up on that list with some great players from nationally-recognized institutions," said Lynx head coach Paul Vasconcelos, whose team went 15-5-1 in reaching its first ever NCAA Tournament.

Domingo was named to the All-NSCAA New England North First Team, while Sinanis and Sozeri were named to the North Second Team. All three were previously named All-New England Collegiate Conference First Team.

The heart of the Lynx defense, Domingo started and finished his senior season strongly. He tallied an assist in a 4-0 season-opening win at Eastern Nazarene and three days later scored two goals on late second-half headers in Lesley's come-from-behind 2-1 win over Mount Ida on September 4. He also scored the game-winner in the Lynx senior day 1-0 win over Newbury and added goals in the next two games, NECC playoff wins over Mitchell and at Daniel Webster, in leading Lesley to its first NECC Championship.

Sinanis led the NECC with 10 assists, a Lesley single-season record that tied him for 20th nationally. The midfielder's eight goals and 26 points were both good for second on the team behind Sozeri. Sinanis tallied two goals and two assists in the Lynx three NECC Tournament games and scored the Lynx only goal in its 5-1 NCAA Tournament loss at Babson.

Sozeri was named NECC Tournament Most Valuable Player after his hat trick in Lesley's championship victory at Southern Vermont, but he enjoyed a successful regular season prior to his record eight goals in the league tournament.  He led the NECC in goals (19), points (39), shots (105) and goals per game, ranking eighth nationally at an even 1.00 goals per game.

"Our staff is thrilled about our players' selections," said Vasconcelos. "This will no doubt aid in our recruitment efforts going forward."

With three players represented between the two All-NSCAA New England North squads, only regional powers and fellow NCAA Tournament participants Amherst College and Trinity College received more honorees. Vasconcelos' Lynx were the only NECC team to have a player honored, and no Boston-area school earned more all-stars than Lesley's three.