Men’s Soccer’s Ávila, Temple & Le Guennec Earn All-Big Ten Honors
Nov 08 | Men's Soccer
Pablo Ávila makes All-Big Ten Second Team, Jackson Temple and Hugo Le Guennec land on All-Freshman Team
ROSEMONT, Ill. (Nov. 8, 2019) – Rutgers men's soccer placed three Scarlet Knights on the 2019 All-Big Ten awards, released by the conference office on Friday. Sophomore Pablo Ávila has earned All-Big Ten Second Team accolades, while freshmen Jackson Temple and Hugo Le Guennec have been named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
Temple was one of five unanimous selections to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, joining Le Guennec on the honor roll to mark Rutgers' first time placing more than one player on the All-Rookie list since joining the conference in 2014. Overall since 2014, six Scarlet Knights have been Big Ten All-Freshman, including senior Tim McQuaid and sophomore Thomas DeVizio.
Ávila is the sixth Scarlet Knight to earn an All-Big Ten honor since 2014, and the only current Rutgers player to claim the distinction.
Additionally, senior Jake Longo was named as Rutgers' recipient of the conference's Sportsmanship Award.
"It's a great honor and a testament that we brought in some guys that can compete at the Big Ten level," said first-year head coach Jim McElderry. "The Coaches and opponents are appreciating what we're doing and playing the right way. Overall, our talent is going to get better and better. It's tough to get these awards in the Big Ten because there are a lot of good players."
Ávila leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring with six goals on the season, scored over a 10-match stretch from Sept. 10 to Oct. 15. The sophomore ranks fourth in the Big Ten in goals scored and is tied for fourth with his 14 points, adding two assists this season. Two of his tallies went down as game-winners for the Scarlet Knights in the wins over Binghamton and St. Peter's.
The Terrassa, Spain native had his hand in both goals in the 2-1 victory over St. Peter's adding an assist on the first. He also assisted on a goal in the 3-0 defeat of Wisconsin in Big Ten play.
"Pablo has had a positive impact on our team in every game," McElderry said. "In Big Ten play, he has been quite consistent and one of the better players on the field. We're impressed with the leadership he shows on the field, his mentality, and how well he has transitioned to Rutgers in his first year."
Ranked in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list all season, Temple has scored five goals as a rookie, including two game-winners in the Drexel and Manhattan victories. The Millville, Pennsylvania native came up clutch in a 2-2 draw with Hartford as the Scarlet Knights erased the 2-0 deficit with Temple's tally in the 67th minute.
"Jackson is another player that we can rely on to remain consistent every game playing in the midfield and compete athletically with anyone on the pitch. His desire to improve and his maturity prove that he's only going to get better. We're excited that he got so much experience at a high level in just his first year."
Le Guennec has been widely regarded as one of the most consistent and toughest young defenders in the Big Ten. The rookie has played in and started all 17 games for Rutgers, contributing to four shutouts against Temple, Elon, Manhattan and Wisconsin. The Massy, France native has put in 1,409 minutes on the pitch in his first collegiate season after playing in the Championnat National U19 for Valenciennes in the highest youth league in France.
"Sometimes these defensive guys don't get recognized, so we're happy the Big Ten coaches have seen the quality effort Hugo has put forth," McElderry said. "We ask him to take on a tough task marking against the best attackers on each team. The transition from Europe has not been easy, but it was a challenge he took on with full force and he got better and better each game. The sky is the limit for Hugo."
The Scarlet Knights' three All-Big Ten honorees lead Rutgers into the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday against Ohio State in the first round.
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year: Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Maher, Indiana
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Verdi, Michigan
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Aidan Morris, Indiana
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
All-Big Ten First Team
Forward
Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Liam Butts, Penn State
Midfield
Aidan Morris, Indiana
Eli Crognale, Maryland
Jack Hallahan, Michigan*
Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Defense
Jack Maher, Indiana*
Johannes Bergmann, Maryland*
Jackson Ragen, Michigan
Brandon Hackenberg, Penn State
Goalkeeper
Andrew Verdi, Michigan
All-Big Ten Second Team
Forward
Eric Matzelevich, Maryland
Matt Moderwell, Northwestern
Midfield
Joshua Penn, Indiana
Marc Ybarra, Michigan
Jack Holland, Ohio State
Pablo Ávila, Rutgers
Defense
Spencer Glass, Indiana
Simon Waever, Indiana
Patrick Nielsen, Michigan State
Garrett Opperman, Northwestern
Goalkeeper
Niklas Neumann, Maryland
All-Big Ten Freshman Team
Herbert Endeley, Indiana
Aidan Morris, Indiana*
Joshua Penn, Indiana*
Malcolm Johnston, Maryland
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Derick Broche, Michigan
Liam Butts, Penn State*
Kris Shakes, Penn State
Jalen Watson, Penn State*
Hugo Le Guennec, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, Rutgers*
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Jack Maher, Indiana
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Kevin Buca, Michigan
Cody Sweatte, Michigan State
Mac Mazolla, Northwestern
Parker Siegfried, Ohio State
Will Campbell, Penn State
Jake Longo, Rutgers
Noah Leibold, Wisconsin
* - Unanimous selection
Follow Rutgers men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RUMensSoccer). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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Temple was one of five unanimous selections to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, joining Le Guennec on the honor roll to mark Rutgers' first time placing more than one player on the All-Rookie list since joining the conference in 2014. Overall since 2014, six Scarlet Knights have been Big Ten All-Freshman, including senior Tim McQuaid and sophomore Thomas DeVizio.
Ávila is the sixth Scarlet Knight to earn an All-Big Ten honor since 2014, and the only current Rutgers player to claim the distinction.
Additionally, senior Jake Longo was named as Rutgers' recipient of the conference's Sportsmanship Award.
"It's a great honor and a testament that we brought in some guys that can compete at the Big Ten level," said first-year head coach Jim McElderry. "The Coaches and opponents are appreciating what we're doing and playing the right way. Overall, our talent is going to get better and better. It's tough to get these awards in the Big Ten because there are a lot of good players."
Ávila leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring with six goals on the season, scored over a 10-match stretch from Sept. 10 to Oct. 15. The sophomore ranks fourth in the Big Ten in goals scored and is tied for fourth with his 14 points, adding two assists this season. Two of his tallies went down as game-winners for the Scarlet Knights in the wins over Binghamton and St. Peter's.
The Terrassa, Spain native had his hand in both goals in the 2-1 victory over St. Peter's adding an assist on the first. He also assisted on a goal in the 3-0 defeat of Wisconsin in Big Ten play.
"Pablo has had a positive impact on our team in every game," McElderry said. "In Big Ten play, he has been quite consistent and one of the better players on the field. We're impressed with the leadership he shows on the field, his mentality, and how well he has transitioned to Rutgers in his first year."
Ranked in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100 Freshmen list all season, Temple has scored five goals as a rookie, including two game-winners in the Drexel and Manhattan victories. The Millville, Pennsylvania native came up clutch in a 2-2 draw with Hartford as the Scarlet Knights erased the 2-0 deficit with Temple's tally in the 67th minute.
"Jackson is another player that we can rely on to remain consistent every game playing in the midfield and compete athletically with anyone on the pitch. His desire to improve and his maturity prove that he's only going to get better. We're excited that he got so much experience at a high level in just his first year."
Le Guennec has been widely regarded as one of the most consistent and toughest young defenders in the Big Ten. The rookie has played in and started all 17 games for Rutgers, contributing to four shutouts against Temple, Elon, Manhattan and Wisconsin. The Massy, France native has put in 1,409 minutes on the pitch in his first collegiate season after playing in the Championnat National U19 for Valenciennes in the highest youth league in France.
"Sometimes these defensive guys don't get recognized, so we're happy the Big Ten coaches have seen the quality effort Hugo has put forth," McElderry said. "We ask him to take on a tough task marking against the best attackers on each team. The transition from Europe has not been easy, but it was a challenge he took on with full force and he got better and better each game. The sky is the limit for Hugo."
The Scarlet Knights' three All-Big Ten honorees lead Rutgers into the Big Ten Tournament on Saturday against Ohio State in the first round.
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year: Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Maher, Indiana
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Verdi, Michigan
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Aidan Morris, Indiana
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
All-Big Ten First Team
Forward
Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Liam Butts, Penn State
Midfield
Aidan Morris, Indiana
Eli Crognale, Maryland
Jack Hallahan, Michigan*
Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Defense
Jack Maher, Indiana*
Johannes Bergmann, Maryland*
Jackson Ragen, Michigan
Brandon Hackenberg, Penn State
Goalkeeper
Andrew Verdi, Michigan
All-Big Ten Second Team
Forward
Eric Matzelevich, Maryland
Matt Moderwell, Northwestern
Midfield
Joshua Penn, Indiana
Marc Ybarra, Michigan
Jack Holland, Ohio State
Pablo Ávila, Rutgers
Defense
Spencer Glass, Indiana
Simon Waever, Indiana
Patrick Nielsen, Michigan State
Garrett Opperman, Northwestern
Goalkeeper
Niklas Neumann, Maryland
All-Big Ten Freshman Team
Herbert Endeley, Indiana
Aidan Morris, Indiana*
Joshua Penn, Indiana*
Malcolm Johnston, Maryland
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Derick Broche, Michigan
Liam Butts, Penn State*
Kris Shakes, Penn State
Jalen Watson, Penn State*
Hugo Le Guennec, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, Rutgers*
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Jack Maher, Indiana
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Kevin Buca, Michigan
Cody Sweatte, Michigan State
Mac Mazolla, Northwestern
Parker Siegfried, Ohio State
Will Campbell, Penn State
Jake Longo, Rutgers
Noah Leibold, Wisconsin
* - Unanimous selection
Follow Rutgers men's soccer on Twitter and Instagram (@RUMensSoccer) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RUMensSoccer). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics). For additional updates, please download the Gameday App.
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