PITMAN, N.J. – William Paterson junior back Joe Strawman (Ringoes, N.J./ Hunterdon Central Regional) was named the 2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Men's Soccer Co-Defensive Player of the Year, leading a list of six Pioneer honorees announced Nov. 4.

Strawman was joined on the All-NJAC First Team by junior forward Julian Valerio (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan). Junior back Matthew Heitmann (Westwood, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) earned a spot on the All-NJAC Second Team, while junior back Chris Belan (Howell, N.J./Freehold Twp.), sophomore midfielder Anthony Ferrer (Lake Hiawatha, N.J./Parsippany) and senior goalkeeper Dan Peragallo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) were honorable-mention honorees.

Strawman, a first-team all-conference selection last fall, shared the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year award with Montclair State's William Griffin. Strawman started in all 16 appearances this fall, contributing a goal and two assists for four points, including the lone score during a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Rutgers-Camden (9/19/09). He helped lead a William Paterson defense that ranked third in the league in goals-against average (0.87). Also a member of the 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) All-Metro Region First Team, he has started in 46 of 47 career contests and has compiled 19 points (7 g, 5 a).

Valerio earned a spot on the All-NJAC First Team for the second straight year after leading the Pioneers with eight goals, six assists and 22 points while starting 18 times his fall. He ranked fifth in goals/match (0.44), tied for fifth in points, goals and assists, sixth in points/match (1.22) and tied for seventh in assists/match (0.33) in the conference statistics, and was named the Drew Fall Fest Offensive MVP after scoring twice during a 4-0 victory against Staten Island (9/5/09). A starter in 51 of 54 career matches and a member of the 2008 NSCAA All-Metro Region First Team, he has compiled 23 goals and 27 assists for 73 points as a Pioneer, good enough to tie for fourth place on the WP career assists list.

An honorable-mention all-league honoree a year ago, Heitmann started in 18 matches this fall and contributed an assist to a 2-1 victory against Skidmore (9/12/09) for his first career point. He helped to anchor a Pioneer defense that ranked third in the league in goals-against average (0.87). Heitmann has started in 56 of 58 career matches at William Paterson.

Previously named to the 2007 All-NJAC Honorable Mention Team and the 2008 All-NJAC Second Team, Belan started in 18 matches at outside back for the Pioneers this fall, helping to lead a defensive effort that ranked third in the league in goals-against average (0.87). Also a selection to the 2007 and 2008 NSCAA All-Metro Region Third Teams, Belan has started in 57 of 58 career matches and has compiled five points (2 g, 1 a).

Ferrer ranked second for William Paterson with 17 points (7 g, 3 a) as a first-year Pioneer this fall. Tied for eighth in goals and tied for 10th in points and goals/match (0.37) in the NJAC, he found the back of the net twice during a 7-0 win against Western Connecticut (9/8/09), and provided the game-winning goals against Staten Island (4-0, 9/5/09) and St. Joseph's-Long Island (5-1, 10/19/09).

Peragallo repeated on the All-NJAC Honorable Mention Team after compiling a 0.89 goals-against average, a .791 save percentage and four shutouts while starting in all 19 matches. Third in GAA, fourth in saves (68), sixth in save percentage, and seventh in shutouts and saves/match (3.58) in the conference statistics, he was named the Sept. 7 NJAC Defensive Player of the Week and the Drew Fall Fest Defensive MVP (Sept. 5-6). A member of the 2008 NSCAA All-Metro Region Second Team, he played in 62 career matches, including 44 in goal, and compiled totals of a 0.88 GAA, an .826 save percentage and 12 shutouts. 
















NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ALL-CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER TEAM

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rafael Duarte, Richard Stockton
PAT BALDISERRA MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR: Joseph Cullen, Montclair State
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: William Griffin, MSU & Joe Strawman, WPU
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Charlie Cunliffe, Rowan
DAVID LOGAR LEADERSHIP AWARD: Michael Cullen, Montclair State
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rob Santaniello, Ramapo
COACH OF THE YEAR: Brian Sentowski, Montclair State

FIRST TEAM
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Michael Cullen SR F Montclair State Clementon, NJ/Highland
Rafael Duarte*$ JR F Richard Stockton Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City
Kevin Luber*& SR F TCNJ Delran, NJ/Delran
Rob Santaniello FR F Ramapo Oakland, NJ/Ramapo
Estiven Benitez~ JR M Rutgers-Newark Warren, NJ/Watchung Hills
Joseph Cullen*$ SR M Montclair State Clementon, NJ/Highland
Shane McGrory^ JR M Rutgers-Camden Laurel Springs, NJ/Sterling
Sean Nelson JR M Richard Stockton Toms River, NJ/Toms River South
Julian Valerio* JR M William Paterson Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan
William Griffin SR B Montclair State Bloomfield, NJ/St. Peter's Prep
Mike Krol^ JR B Montclair State Howell, NJ/Howell
Joe Strawman* JR B William Paterson Ringoes, NJ/Hunterdon Central
Luis Valle~ SR B Rutgers-Newark West Orange, NJ/West Orange
Charlie Cunliffe JR G Rowan Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood

SECOND TEAM
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Walter Avans SO F NJCU Roselle Park, NJ/Union Catholic
Julian Berrios FR F Rowan Lakewood, NJ/Calvary Academy
Sean McCallum^$% SR F Richard Stockton Vineland, NJ/Vineland
Rhyan Nelson JR F Rutgers-Camden Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney
Jilmar Perez SR M NJCU Princeton, NJ/South Brunswick
Anthony Staropoli^ SR M TCNJ Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan
Zach Theinert~ JR M Ramapo Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe Township
Jason Dugan SR B Rowan Seaville, NJ/Ocean City
Brennen Fitzsimmons~ SO B Richard Stockton Neptune, NJ/Neptune
Matthew Heitmann~ JR B William Paterson Westwood, NJ/St. Joseph Regional
Randy Kohr~@ JR B Rowan Marmora, NJ/Ocean City
Teddy Ritter SR G Montclair State Belford, NJ/Middletown North

HONORABLE MENTION
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Abner Denis FR F Kean Cuitiba, Brazil/Gudo Straube
Justin Stone SR F Ramapo Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro
Jervis Witherspoon FR F Rutgers-Newark South Orange, NJ/Columbia
Anthony Ferrer SO M William Paterson Lake Hiawatha, NJ/Parsippany
Brian Galicia SR M TCNJ Brick, NJ/Ocean Township
Mike Pascale SR M Rowan Toms River, NJ/Toms River South
Ronald Quiroz SO M Rutgers-Newark Fairview, NJ/Cliffside Park
Coron Short JR M Montclair State Dayton, NJ/South Brunswick
Chris Belan^@JR B William Paterson Howell, NJ/Freehold Township
Jim Clementi JR B Ramapo Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee
Adam Dorflinger~ SR B TCNJ Sergeantsville, NJ/Hunterdon Central
Chase Komer~ SR B Rutgers-Camden Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown
Sal Pistone SO B Richard Stockton Blackwood, NJ/Highland
Stan Reahm JR B Rutgers-Camden Deptford, NJ/Deptford
Pedro Zamora SR B Kean New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick
Dan Peragallo~ SR G William Paterson North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick

Key:
* - First Team All-Conference 2008
^ - Second Team All-Conference 2008
~ - Honorable Mention All-Conference 2008
& - First Team All-Conference 2007
$ - Second Team All-Conference 2007 
@ - Honorable Mention All-Conference 2007
% - Second Team All-Conference 2006