University of Charleston head men’s soccer coach Chad Duernberger garnered his second consecutive Coach of the Year award, while sophomore midfielder Rob Vincent was named Player of the Year as the WVIAC awards were announced on Wednesday, November 10.
Duernberger’s team has been able to continue the momentum from last year’s Elite Eight run in the NCAA tournament by compiling a 15-3-1 record so far this season, including the WVIAC regular season and tournament championships. The 2009 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year has guided the Golden Eagles to a No. 1 seed heading into Friday’s opening round NCAA tournament match.
Vincent has tallied seven goals and seven assists for UC to rank second on the team with 21 points. The Liverpool, England, native has followed up a stellar freshman season where he was named WVIAC Freshman of the Year. He is just the third Charleston player to ever earn WVIAC Player of the Year honors, joining Dion Peters (2009) and Jamie Chantler (1993).
Vincent was also named to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team, joining teammates Sean Teepen (GK, Soph., Cincinnati, Ohio), Craig Cantor (D, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio), Peters (F, Jr., Trinidad City, Trinidad) and Harry Machacha (F, Jr., Germiston, South Africa). Dan Walmsley (D, Soph., Manchester, England) was named to the WVIAC All-Conference Second Team.
The Golden Eagles kick off their NCAA tournament run on Friday morning when they face No. 4-seeded Shippensburg at 11 a.m. in Erie, Pa.