FIVE HORNETS EARN ALL-MPSF HONORS, OWENS NAMED TO FIRST TEAM

11/26/2007

WOODLAND, Calif. – The Sacramento State men’s soccer team had five players earn all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors, with junior defender Adam Owens earning first team honors for the second straight year, as announced by the MPSF today.

Owens was the Hornets’ defensive leader on the field, while also provided a punch to Sacramento State’s set pieces in the offensive third. During the season, Owens tallied the first goal of his career, and also racked up two assists, marking the first four points of his career.

Senior Eli Millan and junior Omar Martinez were both named to the second-team, marking the second straight honor for Millan, and the first for Martinez, who played his first season in the Green and Gold. Millan was a fixture in the central midfield for the Hornets, a change from his previous position as a striker. Millan tallied a golden goal to defeat UNLV on Oct. 12, ending his career with 10 goals.

Martinez served as a valuable defender on head coach Michael Linenberger’s backline, playing in several spots throughout the season while also triggering the majority of the team’s throw-ins. His first career assist came on a throw-in that was flicked-on by Owens onto the awaiting head of senior Brandon Baggett, who scored what was the game winning goal against Air Force on Nov. 4.

Honorable mention honors went to freshman Ernesto Carranza and junior Blake Nunes. Nunes led the team in goals scored with four, while Carranza led the team in scoring with nine points, collecting three goals and three assists. Nunes connected on the game-winning goal of the Hornets 4-1 triumph over Menlo College, while Carranza was a perfect 2-of-2 on penalty kick conversions this season, scoring against Oregon State and Menlo.