UMBC's Andrew Bulls, the America East Striker of the Year in men's soccer, picked up All-America honors from College Soccer News earlier this week and was also one of five league standouts to earn all-region recognition from the NSCAA.
Bulls was the lone first-team All-Northeast Region choice, while teammates Levi Houapeu and Chris Williams and New Hampshire's Joe Annese and Chris Banks were second-team selections. Boston University's Samuel Appiah and Michael Bustamante and Hartford's Carlos Villa garnered third-team accolades.
Bulls, a first-team all-conference selection, was second in the nation with 41 points and tied for third with 15 goals. Houapeu, the league's Midfielder of the Year and a first-team choice, led the country with 43 points, was tied for third with 15 scores and tied for second with 13 assists. Williams led a defense that allowed just 13 goals in and went 12-3 in the 15 games he played and surrendered 12 scores in the five games he missed with an injury and went 2-3 in that span.
Annese, earned America East Defender of the Year honors by keying a back line that allowed just four goals in eight league games to give UNH its first regular-season title since 1994. Chris Banks, a first-team all-league selection, paced the Wildcat offense, tying for fifth in goals (7) and points (18), while ranking second in game-winning tallies (4).
Appiah, who recently was invited to the MLS Player Combine next month, was a first-team all-league midfielder, along with teammate Michael Bustamante, last season's Midfielder of the Year. The Boston U. tandem combined for six goals and 15 assists.
Villa, a second-team all-conference selection for the Hawks, was fourth with eight goals and tied for fourth with 18 points.