The UCSB men’s soccer team had five players named to the Far West All-Region teams it was announced by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Senior Martin Hedevag earned Far West All-Region First Team honors while junior Sam Hayden, sophomore Michael Tetteh, sophomore Danny Barrera and sophomore Luis Silva also earned accolades from the NSCAA.
The five All-Region selections mark the most in a season for UCSB. The most honorees prior to 2009 was four following the 2007 campaign.
Martin Hedevag, a senior from Gothenburg, Sweden, earned First Team distinction. The defender was also named the Big West’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and was recently invited to the MLS Player Combine that will be held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in early January.
Hedevag was the heart of the Gaucho defensive unit that tallied a school-record 16 shutouts. His play was instrumental in UCSB allowing just 18 goals across its 24 games. In addition to his key defensive role, the native of Gothenburg, Sweden also played a part in the UCSB attack and tallied 11 points (four goals, three assists).
Sam Hayden earned Second Team Far West All-Region honors after anchoring the Gaucho defense during 2009. The junior transfer from Yavapai College posted a school and Big West record 16 shutouts in the goal for UCSB and his goals against average of 0.74 ranks 23rd nationally and third all-time in the Gaucho Record books. Hayden’s .825 saves percentage, meanwhile, ranks 28th among Division I players.
The Big West Goalkeeper of the Year posted a new UCSB record for consecutive shutout minutes after he totaled 595:16 during the season.
Also on the Second Team is Michael Tetteh. The sophomore defender from Accra, Ghana played in all 24 contests for the Gauchos, starting 22 of them. He posted a goal and five assists on the year. Incredibly versatile, he played in both the midfield and in the back for the Gauchos, adding a spark on both ends of the ball. In addition to his All-Region accolades, Tetteh was also named Second Team All-Big West.
Rounding out the Second Team honorees for UCSB is Danny Barrera. The sophomore, who was also named the Big West Midfielder of the Year, ended the season second on the team with 19 total points. He led the squad with nine assists – his average of 0.38 assists per game ranks 55th nationally – and was tied for third with five goals. Barrera also earned postseason honors from TopDrawerSoccer.com, as he was named to the website’s Third Team.
The final Far West All-Region selection from UCSB is Luis Silva, who was named to the Third Team. A sophomore midfielder, Silva started 23 games for the Gauchos and ended the season fourth on the team with 13 points (four goals, five assists). Additionally, he earned First Team All-Big West and was named to the Goal.com Third Team.
UCSB ended the 2009 season in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the program’s fifth Sweet 16 appearance in the last eight years. The Gauchos’ final record was 17-5-2 and they won the Big West regular season crown with an 8-1-1 conference mark.
