The United Soccer Coaches Association announced their All-Region teams. After voting done by soccer coaches and officials across the country, the University of St. Thomas had three student-athletes named to the Region X squad. This also went further as when the All-American list was revealed, two athletes received accolades. Hamilton Estrada was named to the all-region team, Daniel Castro was also named to all-region and third team all-american, and Taty Aleman earned all-region and first team all-american honors.
Hamilton Estrada is the heart of a defense that allowed just two goals in the SCAC tournament as the Celts claimed their second-straight SCAC title and headed into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. On top of five shutouts in the year, St. Thomas also added a shutout in the NCAA round of 32 against Pacific Lutheran. Estrada was named SCAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week in September and also contributed offensively, with three assists on the year.
Daniel Castro, the sophomore from Cypress, Texas also picked up all-region honors in addition to his third team all-american nod. Castro scored 17 goals and 4 assists on the season for 38 total points. Daniel earned first-team all-SCAC honors this season for his outstanding play and even added four goals and an assist in the conference tournament as the Celts went back-to-back, and advanced to the NCAA national tournament for the first time as part of joining Division III.
Lastly, Taty Aleman was the final Celt to earn honors. With this announcement, Taty becomes the first UST Celt to receive first-team all-american honors. Aleman started the season with a bang, scoring four goals against non-conference opponent Sul Ross St, and a total of 20 goals in the season. Taty also earned SCAC player of the week honors twice this season and a first-team All-SCAC nomination. He is also responsible for four of the five Celt goals in the NCAA National tournament, scoring the game-winners against Chapman and Pacific Lutheran.
"Hamilton, Daniel, and Taty are all fantastic representatives of what it means to be a Celt Men's Soccer player," Head Coach Ian Clerihew added. "I am proud of all their accomplishments and this a tremendous honor for each of them. They have each set a high bar for the future."
Men's soccer accomplished history this year by being the first University of St. Thomas program to reach the NCAA National Tournament. They continued that success into the Sweet 16 round, knocking off Chapman and Pacific Lutheran. For more information on Men's Soccer, follow the team on Instagram or Twitter, and UST athletics for all athletic updates.
