KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- For the sixth time this fall, an America East student-athlete has earned All-America recognition. UMBC men's soccer star Levi Houapeu received third-team All-America honors from both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and College Soccer News Friday. Additionally, eight standouts, including Houapeu, received all-region honors from the NSCAA.
Houapeu, the America East Striker of the Year, led UMBC to its most successful season in program history as the Retrievers won their first America East Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA College Cup. He ranks seventh nationally in total points (31), total goals (14) and goals per game (0.75) and 10th in points per game (1.7). Houapeu was also one of 54 college seniors to receive in invitation to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Player Combine that will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Jan. 7-11.
Houapeu is the 23rd America East men's soccer player to earn All-America honors all-time and first since Boston University's Joachim Kaland in 2001 to be recognized by both the NSCAA and College Soccer News in the same season.
Also a first-team All-Northeast Region choice, Houapeu was joined by Binghamton's Kyle Manscuk on that squad. Manscuk earned first-team All-America East honors after scoring four goals from his defensive position. Boston University's Colin Henry, Michael Bustamante and Aaron O'Neal were all second-team choices along with UMBC's Andrew Bulls. All four players were first-team all-league choices while Henry was also the Defender of the Year. Stony Brook's Leonardo Fernandes, the league's Midfielder of the Year, was a third-team selection.
Houapeu is already the sixth America East student-athlete to receive All-America recognition this season. Boston University's Lisa Kevorkian received the honor in women's soccer, Maine's Kelly Newton and New Hampshire's Whitney Frates were honored in field hockey, while Stony Brook's Holly and Lucy van Dalen earned All-America status in cross country.