Virginia’s Edward Opoku, Virginia Tech’s Mike Brizendine Headline VaSID
Men’s Soccer Team
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Virginia’s Edward Opoku headlines the Virginia Sports
Information Directors All-State team as he was named state player of the year VaSID
announced on Wednesday afternoon. Virginia Tech’s Mike Brizendine was named
the organization’s coach of the year, while Old Dominion’s Sebastien Hauret took
home top rookie honors rounding out the major awards.
Opoku, who was tabbed an NSCAA Second-Team All-American, helped the Cavaliers
to their 36th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and to the third round of
the College Cup. He finished second on the team with six goals, including five gamewinners, while adding two of assists, for 14 points. Following the season he was
named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second-Team.
Brizendine picks up his first-ever VaSID Coach of the Year honor. He guided the
Hokies to a 13-win campaign and a berth into the College Cup Quarterfinals. VT
posted a program-best nine shutouts, finishing the season ranked No. 8 in the
NSCAA Poll, and No. 11 in the RPI. It was the first time the Hokies appeared in the
College Cup since 2007.
Rounding out the major awards is Hauret. The rookie burst onto the scene at Old
Dominion as the team’s leading scorer. He finished his first campaign tallying two
goals, adding seven assists, for 11 points. For Hauret’s efforts he was tabbed to the
Conference USA All-Rookie squad.
Joining Opoku on the first-team were his Cavaliers’ teammates Pablo Aguilar, and
Sergi Nus. Following an NCAA Tournament berth, Radford placed a trio of players on
the first team in Jo Vetle Rimstad, Fraser Colmer, and Aitor Pouseu Blanco. Virginia
Tech (Marcelo Acuna), Liberty (Tresor Mbuyu), William & Mary (Antonio
Bustamante), Longwood (Finnlay Wyatt), and VCU (Dakota Barnathan) all had one
represented on the first-team.
William & Mary led the second team with three selections in Ryder Bell, Marcel
Berry, and William Eskay. Both VCU - Luc Faton and Rafel Santos - and Liberty Kevin Mendoza and Kyle Carr - each had a pair of second-team selections. Radford’s
Jakob Strandsäter, Longwood’s Dan Campos, Virginia Tech’s Juan Pablo Saavedra
and UVA’s Jeff Caldwell rounded out the all-state awards.
In all eight Virginia schools had representation on the all-state teams. Virginia,
William & Mary, and Radford led the way with four selections apiece, while Virginia
Tech, Liberty, and VCU had three. Longwood had a pair of representatives, and Old
Dominion had one.
VaSID names 27 All-State teams in 15 sports each year, as well as an Academic AllState squad and an all-sports champion in both the University and College Divisions.
Membership in VaSID is open to all media relations professionals working at a
university or conference in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
VaSID Player of the Year
Edward Opoku, Virginia
VaSID Coach of the Year
Mike Brizendine, Virginia Tech
VaSID Rookie of the Year
Sebastien Hauret, Old Dominion
VaSID All-State First-Team
Forwards
Edward Opoku, Virginia ^
Marcelo Acuna, Virginia Tech
Tresor Mbuyu, Liberty
Midfielders
Antonio Bustamante, William & Mary
Finnlay Wyatt, Longwood
Pablo Aguilar, Virginia
Defenders
Jo Vetle Rimstad, Radford%
Fraser Colmer, Radford
Sergi Nus, Virginia
Dakota Barnathan, VCU
Goalie
Aitor Pouseu Blanco, Radford%
VaSID All-State Second Team
Forwards
William Eskay, William & Mary^
Luc Fatton, VCU
Ryder Bell, William & Mary ^
Midfielders
Rafael Santos, VCU^
Kevin Mendoza, Liberty
Jakob Strandsäter, Radford
Dan Campos, Longwood
Defenders
Marcel Berry, William & Mary
Kyle Carr, Liberty
Juan Pablo Saavedra, Virgina Tech
Goalie
Jeff Caldwell, Virginia^
^ - 2-time VaSID selection % - 3-time VaSID selection