PITMAN, N.J. – William Paterson junior back Marcus Hackett (Montclair, N.J /Immaculate Conception) was named the 2013 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year, one of three Pioneers honored by the league office Nov. 6.

Hackett and senior midfielder Matt Nigro (Morganville, N.J./Marlboro) garnered spots on the All-NJAC First Team, while sophomore back Aken Pierre (North Plainfield, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) was an honorable-mention selection.

A second-team all-NJAC selection in 2011 and a first-team honoree in 2012, Hackett has recorded five goals and three assists for 13 points this season, starting in 17 of 18 appearances. In 54 career matches (50 starts), Hackett has registered 15 goals and five assists for the Pioneers.

Earning his first all-conference honors, Nigro leads the team with seven goals, five assists (tied-ninth in league) and 19 points, starting in all 18 matches for WP. The senior has 10 goals and 12 assists in 78 career appearances (61 starts).

Pierre is a first-time all-NJAC honoree and has posted seven points (3 g, 1 a) in 2013, starting every match. In 31 career contests, the sophomore has recorded four goals and one assist.

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2013 All-New Jersey Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Awards
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Raphael Araujo, Rutgers-Newark
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mike Ryan, Rutgers-Camden
PAT BALDISERRA MIDFIELDER OF THE YEAR: Lucas Terci, Montclair State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Marcus Hackett, William Paterson
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Aaron Utman, TCNJ
DAVID LOGAR LEADERSHIP AWARD: Joe Auleta, Rutgers-Camden
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Anthony Colofranson, Richard Stockton
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tim Oswald, Rutgers-Camden

FIRST TEAM
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Raphael Araujo JR F Rutgers-Newark North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield
Chris Katona* SR F Richard Stockton Howell, NJ/Howell
Mike Ryan* SO F Rutgers-Camden Marlton, NJ/Cherokee
Kevin Shaw^# SR F TCNJ Brookside, NJ/West Morris Mendham
Sean Casey^# SR M TCNJ Toms River, NJ/Toms River South
Mitch Grotti^& SR M Rutgers-Camden Milmay, NJ/Millville
Matt Nigro SR M William Paterson Morganville,NJ/Marlboro
Lucas Terci^ SO M Montclair State Union, NJ/Union
Joe Auleta^$ JR B Rutgers-Camden Atco, NJ/Hammonton
Mohamed Conteh^ SR B NJCU Trenton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro North
Marcus Hackett*$ JR B William Paterson Montclair, NJ/Immaculate Conception
Clevon McPherson^ SO B Richard Stockton Kingston, Jamaica/Pemberton
Aaron Utman SR G TCNJ Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley

SECOND TEAM
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Anthony Colofranson FR F Richard Stockton Woodbury Heights, NJ/Gateway
Patryk Dawidczyk JR F Rutgers-Newark Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne
Trey Leggett^ SO F Montclair State Stockton, NJ/Hunterdon Central
Dylan Smith~ SR F Rowan Hamilton, NJ/Steinert
Brian Barrera# SR M Rutgers-Newark Elizabeth, NJ/Union
Bonny Londono JR M Rutgers-Newark Nutley, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep
Pat Rafferty$ SR M Richard Stockton Brick, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy
Maxx Wurzburger JR M Montclair State Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock
Bobby Foster~# SR B Rutgers-Camden Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township
Jon Krzysik~ JR B Montclair State Clifton, NJ/Paramus Catholic
Gordon Lyng SR B Kean Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional
Ryan Sullivan JR B TCNJ Bridgewater, NJ/Immaculata
Mike Randall~ SR G Rutgers-Camden Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East

HONORABLE MENTION
Name Year Pos. School Hometown/High School
Dan Mendoza*&+ SR F Montclair State Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack
Dave Przybylo SR F Ramapo Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills
Keegan Balle SR M Rutgers-Camden Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley
Anthony DeRisi FR M Rutgers-Newark Allentown, NJ/Allentown
Aboubacar Diawara SO M NJCU Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne
Shane Kohler JR M Rowan Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central Regional
Stephen Moll SR M Kean Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial
Dominic Nocito SR M Richard Stockton Delran, NJ/Delran
Rob Shalikar~ SO M Ramapo East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick
Joe Borrajo JR B Montclair State Clifton, NJ/Clifton
Eric Cutry JR B Rutgers-Camden Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee
Greg Kaye SO B TCNJ Morganville, NJ/Marlboro
Aken Pierre SO B William Paterson North Plainfield, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep
Bayley Young FR B Ramapo Manahawkin, NJ/Southern
Matt Broomall* SO G Rutgers-Newark Somers Point, NJ/Mainland
Ryan Gill$ SR G Rowan West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford

Key:
* - First Team All-Conference 2012
^ - Second Team All-Conference 2012
~ - Honorable Mention 2012
& - First Team All-Conference 2011
$ - Second Team All-Conference 2011
# - Honorable Mention 2011
+ - Second-Team All-Conference 2010