Siena Men’s Soccer redshirt senior captain Danilo Markovic was tabbed a First Team All-MAAC selection, while freshman midfielder Alejandro Riquelme claimed both Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Rookie Team recognition during the MAAC Awards Show broadcast on MAAC.TV.

 

Markovic becomes just the eighth player in program history to earn First Team All-MAAC acclaim, and the first since James Beeston in 2013. Meanwhile Riquelme is the first Siena freshman to receive both Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Rookie Team honors since Alexander Tejera in 2014, and is just the seventh to receive both awards during a freshman season in program history.

 

A native of Queens, New York, Markovic made a triumphant return to the field this fall after missing the entirety of the 2016 season due to injury. The fifth-year senior started all 18 matches at center back for a Siena defense which posted a team goals against average of 1.20 and four shutouts. A Preseason All-MAAC selection, Markovic played 1,772 of a possible 1,798 minutes, and added three points on a goal and an assist on the offensive side of the field. The first four-time team captain in program history, he finishes his career ranking third all-time in matches played with 74, while scoring 11 points including a pair of game-winning goals. Markovic was previously named a Second Team All-MAAC honoree in 2015, and a MAAC All-Rookie Team selection in 2013.

 

Riquelme led the Saints in scoring as a freshman this fall with 14 points on the strength of six goals and two assists. The Las Rozas, Spain standout was one of four Saints – and the only freshman – to start in all 18 matches. Riquelme scored the game-winning goal in Siena’s non-conference road victory at LIU Brooklyn on Sept. 22, and also tallied goals in key league ties vs. MAAC contenders Canisius and Fairfield.

 

Fellow freshman Allen Gavilanes of Marist was named both the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Alex Grattarola of Canisius was tabbed the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Manhattan’s Marcellin Gohier earned MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Carl Rees was selected as the BSN Sports MAAC Coach of the Year after leading Fairfield to the regular season title.

 

For the second straight year Siena placed seven student athletes on the MAAC All-Academic Team, which is reserved for those who have met the criteria of having completed two academic semesters at their current institution while also maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better. The Saints’ honorees were redshirt senior Tommaso Centemero, senior Milorad Sobot, junior Marko Stojanovic, sophomores Eamonn Conway, Matteo Curto, and Conor McGlynn, and redshirt freshman Alessandro Markovic.

 

Siena recently wrapped up its 2017 campaign with a 4-7-7 overall record including a 2-4-4 mark in league play. The Saints are expected to return six starters and two of their top-three point producers next fall.