Norwich Senior Ryan Boyton Leads Six GNAC Players Onto 2008 NSCAA Men's Soccer All New England Team
Norwich senior forward Ryan Boyton earned second-team All New
England honors and was one of six Great Northeast Athletic
Conference players named to the 2008 National Soccer Coaches
Association of America (NSCAA) Men's Soccer All New England Region
team.
Boyton, the 2008 GNAC Player of the Year, was one of four Norwich
players on the 2008 All New England squad. Drew Dilley was named to
the third team, while Jason Grupp and Kyle Przekaza were both
selected to the fourth unit. Joining the Norwich foursome, Mt. Ida
sophomore Hyato Kanesaka was named to the third team and Albertus
Magnus senior J.J. Torres was named to the fourth team.
Boyton, Dilley, Grupp, and Przekaza led Norwich to an 18-3-1
record this past fall, including an unbeaten 8-0-1 mark against
GNAC foes. It marks the second straight season that the Cadets have
gone undefeated during their conference season. This year's senior
class, which Boyton, Dilley, Grupp, and Przekaza are all a part of,
helped forge one of the best four-year runs in school history,
leading Norwich to a 59-18-3 record during that time. Over the past
two years, the Cadets put together a two-year record of
37-6-2, while winning a pair of GNAC regular season titles and the
GNAC tournament title this year. The team has piled up its share of
postseason success as well, winning the ECAC championship last
season, and advancing in the NCAA championship this year.
Boyton led the Cadets with arguably the most outstanding single
season in Norwich history this season, as the Dunedin, Fla., native
led the league in goals (21), assists (18) and points (60). Boyton
was selected 2008 GNAC Player of the Year along with earning a spot
on the GNAC All-Conference 1st team and GNAC All-Tournament
team.
Dilley, who was a first team All-GNAC and GNAC All-Tournament team
selection this year, ranked second on the team with 16 goals and 35
points.
Grupp, who was a fourth-team All-New England selection last season
as a junior, repeats this year. He was named 2008 GNAC Defensive
Player of the Year and selected to the GNAC All-Conference 1st
team. Grupp played a major role in the Norwich defense posting 10
shutouts in 2008.
Przekaza, GNAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, played alongside
Grupp along the back line this year. He was named to the GNAC
All-Conference 1st team and GNAC All-Tournament team. The
Northfield, Vt., product played an offensive role as well, scoring
two goals and adding two assists.
Mount Ida’s Hayato Kanesaka was recognized as a GNAC
All-Conference 1st team and GNAC All-Tournament selection. This was
his second season with an all-conference honor, last year he was a
second team selection. Kanesaka was a big part of the
defensive scheme this year making the switch to sweeper from
midfield.
Albertus Magnus senior J.J. Torres was recognized as a GNAC All-Conference 2nd team selection for 2008. Torres started all 17 games for the Falcons and scored 13 points for the 2008 season.
