After helping lead the Canisius College men's soccer team to one of the most successful seasons in school history, senior forward Asani Samuels and sophomore defender Thomas Teupen were both honored with all-conference accolades on Thursday. Samuels was named to the All-MAAC First Team, while Teupen collected second-team honors.
It marks the first time that two Griffs earned all-conference accolades in the same season since 2008 when Victor Gonzalez and Alan McGreal were both named to the All-MAAC Second Team.
A two-time NSCAA All-North Atlantic Region honoree and a member of the All-MAAC Second Team in 2013, Samuels set career highs with 19 points, eight goals and three assists during the 2014 campaign. The senior finished the season ranked fourth in the MAAC in both points and goals, while his four game-winning tallies is tied for first in the conference and rank 19th nationally.
Samuels finished his career in the Blue and Gold with 38 points, 16 goals and six assists. He ranks 10th in the school's record book with his 16 career tallies.
The first Griff defender to earn All-MAAC honors since Sean Vella in 2007, Teupen anchored the best defense in program history with Canisius setting school records in fewest goals allowed (16), goals against average (0.84) and shutouts (eight). A native of Münster, Germany, Teupen also registered assists in wins over Bryant and St. Bonaventure during the season.
A member of the MAAC All-Rookie Team last season, Teupen has appeared in 35 career games with the Griffs, totaling four points, one goal and two assists, while also anchoring 12 clean sheets.
In addition, seven Griffs were honored for their work off the pitch when seniors Derek Maier and Ryan Schroen, juniors Eric Ashley, Nicoló Baudo and Chris Berardi, sophomore John Hollinger and redshirt freshman Mitch Cancilla were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team.
The Griffs finished the year with a 9-6-3 record, matching the school record for wins in a season. Overall, 11 marks in the program's record book were set or matched during the 2014 season.