LORETTO, Pa. (Nov. 13, 2014) -- On the eve of its record breaking season, the Saint Francis U men's soccer team made it's presence known with five student athletes receiving honors, headed by four All-NEC First Team selections, the Defensive Player of the Year, and the Coach of the Year at the annual Northeast Conference men's soccer banquet Thursday evening.

Head coach Michael Casper received the NEC Coach of the Year following a record breaking 12 win season, his squad clinching the programs first NEC regular season title, bringing the playoffs to Loretto, Pa. Earlier this season, Casper became the most prolific coach in SFU men's soccer history surpassing 12-year coach Bill Furjanic. Casper has totaled 70 wins in a mere eight seasons at the helm of the Red Flash.

Ryan Byers (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland), Pablo Medina (Monterrey, Mexico/IMG Academies), Francis de Vries (Christchurch, New Zealand/Cashmere), and Mitch Kavlick (Erie, Pa./Erie McDowell) received All-NEC First Team honors, while newcomer Conner Rezende (Davie, Fla. /University School at Nova Southeastern) earned the lone All-NEC Second Team recognition.

de Vries a freshman stand out in 2013, continued to turn heads earning the NEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-NEC First Team honors. The sophomore defender has now been honored in consecutive years on the All-NEC First Team. de Vries ranks 11th in the nation in game-winning goals (5), second on the SFU team in goals (5) and third on the team in points (10). The Christchurch, New Zealand native has made his presence know in the back four starting all 18 games and was a key component for Saint Francis helping Andrew Garcia (Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek Regional) record nine shutouts this season.

Byers was selected as a forward to the All-NEC first team, earning his first recognition as a senior. A three-year starter at forward for the Red Flash, he currently leads the team in points (17), goals (7) and is tied with de Vries for 11th in the nation in game-winners with (5). Byers adds this accolade to his 2011 NEC Academic Honor Roll selection and is a three-time NEC player of the week this year.

Saint Francis U senior midfielder Pablo Medina (Monterrey, Mexico/IMG Academies) earned All-NEC First Team honors leading the team with 11 assists, which ranks second in the NCAA. The Monterrey, Mexico native ranks number one on the SFU all-time list for assists in a single season; he also ranks second in career assists with 19. The senior three-year starter scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 senior day victory over St. Francis Brooklyn. Medina played an essential role down the stretch, helping SFU make it to the NEC playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Senior Mitch Kavlick (Erie, Pa./Erie McDowell) received First Team All-NEC honors serving as an energetic defender for Saint Francis; his work in the back four helped the squad shutout nine teams over the course of the 2014 season. He was a member of the 2013 All-NEC Second Team. Kavlick also made his presence know on the attack this season, producing a game-wining assist in this year's 1-0 victory over William & Mary and scoring a goal in the 4-0 route of Robert Morris.

Newcomer Conner Rezende (Davie, Fla. /University School at Nova Southeastern) earned All-NEC Second Team honors following his outstanding efforts during the 2014 season. The transfer student has scored one goal on the season to go with four assists, having only played in 9 games this season. Rezende's intensity on the field has helped bring Saint Francis's level of play to another level following the addition of his twin brother Calvin, who will both play a key role in this weekends tournament.

Saint Francis hosts the Northeast Conference tournament tomorrow afternoon as the No. 1 seed; they will faceoff against the No. 4 seed LIU Brooklyn at 4:00 p.m.