The USCAA announced its Division II men's soccer All-Americans on Thursday evening at the 2019 USCAA Soccer National Tournament Banquet at the Virginia Beach Convention Center in Virginia Beach, VA. Berkeley College's New Jersey men's soccer team was well represented. Gennaro Vittorioso and Marcos Hidalgo were tabbed as First Team All-Americans, Robert Parker was named a Second Team All-American, Carlos Goncalves, Jordan Bailey, Arturo Layza, and Julian Penta earned Scholar-Athlete honors, and Salaimon Sarwari was announced as an Honorable Mention All-American.
"It was a terrific evening for our program, as eight of our student-athletes were recognized by the USCAA," Head Coach Bruno Ferreira said. "Countless hours have been put in by these student-athletes, as they continue to mature into fine young men, both on the field and academically. I'm very prideful when I reflect back on the season that they've put together so far, and we're locked in on playing our best over what we hope is a championship season. We're all excited."
Hidalgo earned First Team All-American honors thanks to his tremendous play on the offensive side for the Knights this season. Altogether, he produced 16 points, netting five goals and registering six assists. He netted two game-winning goals, and 46 percent of the shots he put on goal ended up in the net. Vittorioso served as one of the key players in Berkeley's defensive scheme, and his stellar efforts led to him getting First Team honors.
A staple in the Berkeley College New Jersey men's soccer program over the past four seasons, Robert Parker earned Second Team All-American status thanks to his great efforts this season. His diligent work has seen him produce a GAA of 2.10, making 52 saves along the way.
Goncalves, Bailey, Layza, and Penta all earned Scholar-Athlete praise, as they all achieved a GPA of over 3.5.
Berkeley College New Jersey will be in the "B" pool, taking on Johnson & Wales-Charlotte on Saturday, November 9, at 4:45pm, before facing Penn State Beaver on Sunday, November 10, at 2:15pm. If the Knights are able to advance from the B pool, they will head to the title game on Monday afternoon, November 11 (4:00pm), where they will take on the winner of the "A" pool – either Berkeley College (New York), Penn State Brandywine, or Southern Maine Community College.