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3 FMU booters named to All-PBC soccer squad

From Francis Marion University:

FLORENCE, SC - Three Francis Marion University men's soccer players have been named to the Peach Belt Conference 2009 All-Conference Team.

Senior midfielder Kyle Clinton was named to the first-team All-PBC squad, while junior forward Juan Rivas and junior defender Ivan Juric both earned second-team recognition.

The trio helped lead Francis Marion to an 11-5-3 record this season.  The Patriots tied for fewest goals allowed by a team in the Peach Belt, with opponents tallying only 17 scores in the 19 matches.  The Patriots placed fifth in the final PBC regular-season standings and lost a tight overtime decision in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.

Clinton, a native of Safety Harbor, Fla., led the Patriots in scoring with seven goals and four assists.  Three of his scores were match-winners.  This is the second straight year he earned first-team All-PBC honors.  He ends his career with 29 goals in 75 matches, including eight match-winning tallies.

Rivas, an All-PBC selection in each of his three seasons, registered three goals and four assists despite missing six matches due to injuries.  Two of the Clearwater, Fla., native's goals were match-winners.

Juric, a native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was also an All-PBC selection last year.  This season, he moved from the midfield to an outside defender position where he started all 19 matches and played 1,719 out of a possible 1,784 minutes.  He recorded two goals and one assist, and helped anchored a Patriot defense that is ranked 22nd nationally in goals against average and that posted eight shutouts.

2009 Peach Belt Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Team

Forwards

First Team

• Aaron Brittain, Lander
• Andy Pullin, UNC Pembroke
• Nathaniel Foster, Montevallo

Second Team

• Leighton Fredericks, Clayton State

Midfielders

First Team

• Adam Arthur, Lander
• Kyle Clinton, Francis Marion
• Kyle Timm, Clayton State

Second Team

• Pol Berenguer, Flagler
• Milan Pualic, Montevallo
• Troy Watson, USC Aiken

Defenders

First Team

• Liam Brown, Clayton State
• Ben Chedgy, North Georgia
• Jamie Ramm, Lander

Second Team

• Ivan Juric, Francis Marion
• John Lesko, USC Aiken
• Kevin Partel, Flagler

Goalkeepers

First Team

• David Cristofoli, Clayton State

Second Team

• Rade Tanaskovic, North Georgia

At-Large

First Team

• Johan Bergfeld, Flagler
• Craig Hughes, Lander

Second Team

• Conor Killeen, Flagler
• Juan Rivas, Francis Marion

Co-Players of the Year

• Adam Arthur, Lander
• Kyle Timm, Clayton State

Freshman of the Year

• Joseph Toby, Flagler

Coach of the Year

• John Lynch, Flagler