Meireles Named MASCAC Rookie of the Year, Four Vikings Earn All-Confernece
SALEM, Mass. – Midfielder Gabriel Meireles (Everett, Mass.) was named the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and earned first-team status as four Salem State players earned all-conference honors as announced by the league on Wednesday.
Joining Meireles on the first-team was Felipe Montiel (Maracaibo, Venezuela) while Igor Caldas (Vitoria, Brazil) and Lucas Amaral (Peabody, Mass.) earned second team honors.
Meireles led all freshman in the conference with 23 points (8g, 7a) and was the focal point of the Vikings' offense this season as one of the league's top passing midfielder's and his seven assists were third most in the MASCAC this year. Montiel was one of the MASCAC's top defenders, starting in all 18 games for Salem State while adding three goals and an assist. Montiel spearheaded a unit that allowed just 14 goals in 19 games (12-3-4) for a league-best .070 goals against average.
Midfielder's Caldas and Amaral finished tied for second in scoring for Salem State with four goals and four assists apiece. The duo combined for four game-winning goals to produce one of the most productive offensive units in the conference this year.