MSUB's Sam Charles Voted Daktronics National Soccer Player-of-the-Year

Sam Charles

Montana State Billings forward Sam Charles has been selected the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II National Player-of-the-Year.

Charles is the third player in GNAC history to earn first-team All-American honors. Seattle University's Bobby McAlister in 2004 and the Redhawks' John Fishbaugher in 2007 were NSCAA first team All-Americans.

The Daktronics team is selected by the nation's sports information directors. Charles was one of three West Region players selected to the All-American team.

Defender Kevin Gallaugher of Cal State Dominguez was a first team pick for the second year in a row. Dominguez Hills midfielder Andrew Marinez was voted to the second team.

Charles is now a five-time All-American. He was voted to the Daktronics third team in 2007 and was an honorable mention selection in 2008. Recently, he was also selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-American second team for the second year in a row.

The two-time GNAC Player-of-the-Year set Great Northwest Athletic Conference single-season records for goals (24) and points (55) this season, wrapping up a brilliant career which saw him virtually rewrite the GNAC record book.

He finished his career with 69 goals, 18 assists and a grand total of 156 points. In three seasons in the GNAC, he had 62 goals, 16 assists and 140 points.

Charles was one of six GNAC players named to the Daktronics West Region team. Joining him on the first team were midfielder Kellan Brown of Western Washington and forward Xan Nixon of Saint Martin's. It was the third straight first team selection for the MSUB forward.

Named to the second team were midfielder Oscar Jimenez of Western Washington and defenders Elliot Morton of Seattle Pacific and Chris Brundage of Western Washington.

Five GNAC players were selected to the NSCAA all-region team selected by the coaches. Charles was the lone first team pick. Named to the second team were Brown, Morton and Seattle Pacific forward Tyler Schultz. Falcon midfielder Alec Nelson was a third team selection.

Daktronics NCAA Division II West Region: First Team - Sam Charles, MSUB (F, 6-3, Sr., Chiswell, England); Xan Nixon, SMU (F, 6-1, So., Seattle, WA); Kellan Brown, WWU (M, 5-7, So., Tacoma, WA). Second Team - Oscar Jimenez, WWU (M, 5-8, So., Mt. Vernon, WA); Elliot Morton, SPU (D, 6-4, So., Tacoma, WA); Chris Brundage, WWU (D, 6-1, Fr., Gig Harbor, WA).

NSCAA: NCAA Division II West Region: First Team - Sam Charles, MSUB (F, 6-3, Sr., Chiswell, England). Second Team – Tyler Schultz, SPU (F, 5-11, So., Scottsdale, AZ); Kellan Brown, WWU (M, 5-7, So., Tacoma, WA); Elliot Morton, SPU (D, 6-4, So., Tacoma, WA). Third Team – Alec Nelson, SPU (M, 5-11, Sr., Lynnwood, WA

MSUB's Charles Repeats as Academic All-American

Montana State University Billings forward Sam Charles has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American team for the second year in a row. Earlier he was selected to the District 7 All-Academic team for the third time

Two other GNAC players also earned first team district academic honors - Andy Wolverton of Seattle Pacific was selected to the District 8 team and MSUB's Tom Milroy was voted to the District 7 team.

Charles is just the second GNAC men's soccer player and the seventh athlete overall to be selected to the academic team three times. Adam Jensen of Seattle University was also a three-time selection between 2004 and 2006. Wolverton and Milroy were both repeat selections from a year ago.

Four male student-athletes were named to the soccer academic team for the third time, including Tom Milroy, Charles and Jarred Weisen, all of Montana State Billings; and Alec Nelson of Seattle Pacific. Wolverton and Chris Andre of MSUB earned academic all-star honors for the second time.

COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-REGION: First Team – Andy Wolverton, Seattle Pacific (Accounting, 3.97, Jr., Portland, OR); Sam Charles, Montana State Billings (Human Performance, Sr., 3.60, Chiswell, England); Tom Milroy, Montana State Billings (Human Performance, Sr., 3.86, Aberdeen, Scotland).

2009 GNAC Men's Soccer Game Stories / GNAC Season Preview