Smoak, Williams Earn NJCAA First-Team All-America Status

Eastern Florida's men soccer team placed two players on the NJCAA Division I first team All-America squad and two on the second team.

Honored with first-team recognition were sophomore Micah Smoak, a midfielder and defender from Melbourne, Florida and Melbourne High, and sophomore Wilfred Williams, a defender from Johnson City, Tennessee and the University of Memphis.

Second team picks were sophomore goalkeeper Kekuta Jatta of Atlanta, Georgia and Georgia Perimeter College and Wheeler High, and sophomore striker Yannick Koffi of Dallas, Texas and Northeast Texas Community College.

Smoak and Williams anchored a backline that allowed 21 goals in 19 games. Smoak also was a force in the midfield and scored seven goals and recorded seven assists.

Williams scored a goal and recorded an assist but his main contributions were moving to the vital center back position when teammates were injured and marking opponents top strikers.

Both played in all 19 games as the Titans advanced to the NJCAA Division I Men's Championship semifinal round for the first time, finishing 15-2-2.

Jatta played 1,098 minutes in 13 games, allowing 13 games, recording 49 saves and four shutouts.

Koffi scored a team-high 12 goals in 15 games and contributed eight assists.

"It is a great honor to have four All-Americas," said Eastern Florida head coach Oliver Twelvetrees. "It is a testament to our team's hard work and dedication to excellence that we have had the most All-America in one season in the three years the program has been in existence or I have had as a coach.

"I'm sure the individuals will thank their whole team for being able to reach these fantastic individual achievements.

"Micah had a fantastic season in an important sophomore year. He scored big goals, won every challenge and got better and better as the season went on. Fully deserved this honor. Wilfred was a great leader on and off the pitch. Defensively he was able to always shut down our opponents' best players and was consistently excellent all season at center back and left back.

"Yannick was the team's most dangerous player throughout the season and scored some phenomenal goals. He has a big future ahead of him. Kekuta put in some strong performances in big games and made special saves at big moments during the season."

Rounding out the first team were goalkeeper Rafael Pereira of Marshalltown (IA); Steve James of national champion Louisburg (NC); Niall Logue of Yavapai (AZ); Brahan Gamarra of Tyler (TX); Ricardo Gomez of Tyler (TX); Max Blackmore of Louisburg (NC); Chris Escalera of Hill (TX); Jason Romero of Pima (AZ); and Chevaughn Walsh of Jefferson (MO).

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America picks will be announced at a later date.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Mark DeCotis, Athletic Communications

Office: 321-433-5700   Cell: 321-759-4540   Email: decotism@easternflorida.edu