Five Middlesex College soccer players received postseason honors following the 2021 fall season.
Destiny Pagan of Woodbridge was named First Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference and First Team All Region 19.
Aanaliyah Hernandez of Middlesex Borough was on the Second Team for both.
Andrew Solomon of Edison was named First Team.
Marwan Fouad of South Brunswick was Second Team of both the Garden State Athletic Conference and Region 19.
Claudio Lopez of Dunellen was named Third Team of the Garden State squad.
“I couldn’t be happier for Destiny and Aanaliyah,” Women’s Coach Adriene Giordano said in a statement released by Middlesex Collage. “Both women played important roles throughout the season.”
Pagan led Middlesex with five goals, four of which came in a 6-2 win over Bucks County College. Her final goal of the season was a 40-yard blast over the keeper’s head against Bucks. Pagan was also a strong defensive player for Middlesex and was capable of playing wherever she was most needed on the field, according to the statement.
“Destiny is one of our leaders on and off the field,” Giordano said in the statement. “She is a strong defender but also a threat offensively with great field vision.”
Hernandez scored three goals on the season, two of which came in a win over rival Raritan Valley Community College.
“Aanaliyah played as one of our center midfielders,” Giordano said in the statement. “She helped create chances for our team and she read the game really well. She was a presence in the midfield.”
Middlesex College finished the season 2-6 after not fielding a team the past two seasons. Giordano’s steady leadership and positive coaching style helped the Colts navigate a season that saw many cancellations and difficulties, but they never wavered from their goals, according to the statement.
Pagan and Hernandez also played a big role in that as well.
The men’s team had a strong season, narrowly missing the playoffs.
Solomon was a stalwart defensive midfielder for the Colts and was a disciplined leader on the field, according to the statement.
“Andrew is a gentleman on and off the field, Coach Javier Velasco said in the statement. “He worked very hard and was disciplined as a defensive midfielder. He also played center back when the team needed him there. It was a pleasure coaching Andrew and we’ll miss him next year. I can’t wait to see him compete on the next level.”
Fouad, a high-energy freshman midfielder, was voted to the Second Team after scoring five goals and registering three assists in 12 games this season. Fouad accounted for game-winning goals in three straight matches for the Colts during a season-high four-game winning streak.
“Marwan is a very talented lefty player,” Velasco said in the statement. He understands and reads the game well. He played as an offensive and defensive midfielder and also played as a left wing and striker. He really sacrificed for the team playing different positions and we can’t thank him enough.”
Lopez was the leading goal scorer and top offensive threat for the Colts this season. He led the team with eight goals and 20 points.