Elon Men¹s Soccer Trio Earns to All-South Region Honors

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s soccer team had three members of its program placed on the All-South Region teams by the NSCAA the association announced on Monday. Seniors Chris Thomas and Gabe Latigue were named to the first and second team, respectively, while junior Daniel Lovitz was named to the third team.

“I’m happy for all three guys to be selected to the All-South Region teams,” said Phoenix head coach Darren Powell. “It reflects well on the entire team’s success and effort throughout the year.”

Coming off arguably the most prolific scoring season in Elon men’s soccer history, Thomas adds to his laundry list of 2012 individual accolades with the second first team All-South selection of his career. Thomas was recently named a NSCAA third team All-American and was a Hermann Trophy semifinalist after leading the nation in goals with 23 and in total points with 51. He earned the Southern Conference’s Player of the Year and league first team honors. He became the program’s all-time goal and point scorer this year and had nine game-winners on the season, including three against ranked completion and two more in the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship tournament to earn All-Tournament honors.

Thomas was also named the SoCon’s Player of the Month for September and October and earned the conference’s weekly award three times this season, giving him six total for his career, which ties a league record. The College Soccer News and the NSCAA recognized him as the National Player of the Week after scoring two goals to help Elon defeat then sixth-ranked Charlotte on Sept. 22.

Latigue, a midfielder, has been a standout for the Phoenix throughout the year after finishing third on the team in goals and second in assists. The Apex, N.C., native had two goals in the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship tournament, including the game winner in the championship game versus Wofford, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. Latigue also scored the lone goal and game-winner against Appalachian State on Oct. 20 and had a season-high two goals against Campbell on Sept. 1.

Latgiue was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Nov. 11 and was a second team All-SoCon selection this season. This is his first All-South region award of his career.

Lovitz earned All-South Region accolades for the first time in his career. The midfielder from Wyndmoor, Pa., started all 22 games for the Phoenix and scored three goals with two assists and was named to the All-Tournament team in the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championships. Lovitz scored two goals against Belmont, including a penalty kick, in Elon’s 4-2 win over the Bruins.

Elon went 15-5-2 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year after capturing both the SoCon regular season and tournament titles in 2012. It was the first time in school history that the program achieved both feats.