The No. 4 Marshall University Men’s Soccer team dominated the prestigious 2023 Sun Belt Conference Postseason Awards. Matthew Bell received both the SBC Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year accolades, Morris Duggan was recognized as the SBC Defensive Player of the Year, and Gabriel Perrotta was named the SBC Goalkeeper of the Year. The league office announced these honors on Friday.
All three awardees also earned first-team all-SBC honors, while Taimu Okiyoshi secured a spot on the second team.
Bell, who was named the SBC Freshman of the Year in the 2022 season, continued to shine in his impressive sophomore campaign. The Jamaican native, hailing from Kingston, was selected for the MAC Hermann Watch List. With 10 assists, which ranks third nationally, and 8 goals, Bell leads the SBC with 26 points, placing him 16th in the country. His 8 goals rank third in the conference, including three game-winning goals, which ties him for second place in the SBC.
Bell is the only two-time recipient of the SBC Offensive Player of the Week award. He has contributed 1.2 goals per game on average, showcasing his skills with four multi-goal performances in 15 matches. Notably, he scored a hat trick against Oakland on August 26 and provided three assists in matches against Pitt on September 5 and Coastal Carolina on October 13.
On the defensive front, Duggan has been the captain and backbone of a defense that excelled throughout the season. Marshall’s defense boasted the highest number of shutouts (9), conceded the fewest goals (12), allowed the lowest number of shots on goal (50), and achieved the best goals against average (.750) in the SBC. Playing for a total of 1,062 minutes, Duggan scored two goals and had four shots on target, with key contributions against Georgia Southern on October 1 and then-No. 5 WVU on October 18. Additionally, the German defender provided two assists, one each in matches against High Point on September 8 and Coastal Carolina on October 13.
Perrotta proved to be a formidable force in goal for Marshall in the 2023 season. After transferring from UNCW, this graduate student started in all 16 games, playing for all but 6 minutes. He led the SBC with 8.5 shutouts and 14 wins, setting individual and team records for regular season victories. Notably, four of Perrotta’s shutouts came in SBC matches against then-No. 3 UCF on September 23, Georgia State on October 7, ODU on October 27, and South Carolina on October 31. Perrotta’s goals against average of .753 leads the SBC and places him in the top 20 nationally, while his .755 save percentage ranks fourth in the conference.
Okiyoshi, the captain of the 2023 squad, played every minute of all 16 matches for The Herd, surpassing all other field players in total minutes played with 1,314. Hailing from Kobe, Japan, Okiyoshi recorded a goal and an assist with 7 shots, including two on target. Notably, his goal was a sensational strike from outside the 18-yard box in a victory against then-No. 9 James Madison on September 16, and he provided an assist in a win against Cleveland State on September 12.
The No. 4 Herd is poised to kick off the 2023 SBC Men’s Soccer Tournament as the top seed, facing the eighth-seeded Old Dominion Monarchs on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Hoops Family Field. Click here to purchase your tickets now!
2023 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Postseason Awards
Player of the Year | Offensive Player of the Year
Matthew Bell, Marshall
Defensive Player of the Year
Morris Duggan, Marshall
Goalkeeper of the Year
Gabriel Perrotta, Marshall
Freshman of the Year
Saku Heiskanen, UCF
Newcomer of the Year
Clarence Awoudor, UCF
Coach of the Year
Scott Calabrese, UCF
First Team All-Conference
F – Matthew Bell, Marshall
F – Marcus Caldeira, West Virginia
F – Lucca Dourado, UCF
F – Yutaro Tsukada, West Virginia
M – Ethan Dekel Daks, South Carolina
M – Clay Obara, James Madison
M – Simon Carlson, Georgia State
D – Zane Bubb, UCF
D – Morris Duggan, Marshall
D – Luca Nikolai, James Madison
GK – Gabriel Perrotta, Marshall
Second Team All-Conference
F – Saku Heiskanen, UCF
F – Adam Luckhurst, South Carolina
F – Rodrigo Robles, James Madison
M – Taimu Okiyoshi, Marshall
M – AJ Seals, UCF
M – Kevin Larsson, James Madison
M – Luke McCormick, West Virginia
D – Anderson Rosa, UCF
D – Frederik Jorgensen, West Virginia
D – Max Miller, Kentucky
GK – Jackson Lee, West Virginia
To contribute to the Championship Fund for Marshall men’s soccer, please click HERE. All proceeds directly support the Marshall men’s soccer team.
Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72931262/usa_today_21973134.0.jpg "Stay Updated on Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Movements for 2023-2024 Season")
