GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas and Men’s Soccer Coaches announced the 2024 All-Conference and Annual awards on Friday afternoon.

Junior Smith of the Chowan men’s soccer team was recognized as the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, while Robbie Deighan was honored as the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year. Smith and Harry Baker earned spots on the Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference, and Bradley Binns and Charlie Birch were both selected to the Third Team All-Conference. The Hawks earned the top seed in the Conference Carolinas Championship bracket with a KPI value of .192, finishing the regular season with a 7-2-2 record in conference play. Chowan is set to compete in the championship on Friday, Nov. 15, at 4:45 p.m.

Smith led Conference Carolinas with 13 goals as he is the individual to score at least 10 goals in the regular season. He added three assists to lead the league with 29 points. His three game-winning goals ranked second in Conference Carolinas. The senior was selected Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Week on October 22 after scoring a pair of goals along with an assist. He tallied all three goals in a 3-3 draw at the University Mount Olive and later scored two goals and added an assist in a 3-2 win at Francis Marion University. Heading into the conference tournament, he has scored at least one goal in each of the last six matches.

As a freshman, Deighan posted two goals and three assists. He was selected Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month in the month of October. He tallied the game-winning goal against Barton College and later added another goal at Barton. All three of his assists came in Hawk wins as well, including a 3-2 win over Francis Marion.    

Harry Baker has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches for the Hawks this season. He has contributed 3 assists and registered 4 shots on goal.

Bradley Binns has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches for the Hawks this season. He has scored 1 goal and registered 3 assists, while recording 23 shots, including 8 on goal.

Charlie Birch, a defender for the Hawks, earned All-Conference recognition in 2023 and has continued to impress this season. He has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches, contributing a goal and registering 9 shots, with 3 of those on target, all while anchoring the backline.

Gabriel Verona was twice tabbed Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Week for anchoring the Converse back line. The senior defender started all 17 matches for the Valkyries, logging a team-high 1409 minutes. He posted an assist in a 1-1 draw with King University and later tallied a goal in a 1-1 draw with Lees-McRae College.

Rob Miller garners Coach of the Year honors for the second time, the last coming in 2022. He guided the Valkyries to a Northwest Division title with a 3-0-5 mark in division play and the second seed in the Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship as Converse went 6-0-6 in league play and 9-1-7 overall. The division crown is the second straight for Converse and third straight title as the Valkyries capture the 2022 regular season and tournament crowns.

2024 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer All-Conference

Offensive Player of the Year

Junior Smith, Chowan

Defensive Player of the Year

Gabriel Verona, Converse

Freshman of the Year

Robbie Deighan, Chowan

Coach of the Year

Rob Miller, Converse

First Team

Forward – Junior Smith, Chown

Forward – Guilherme Fontes, Converse

Forward – Juan Salazar Lopez, Francis Marion

Midfielder – Mario Buelga, Francis Marion

Midfielder – Gabriel Slemer Lopes, Barton

Midfielder – Thomas Kleinpenning, Young Harris

Defender – Gabriel Verona, Converse

Defender – Harry Baker, Chowan

Defender – Ivar Na Aga, Young Harris

Defender – Gray Smith, Lees-McRae

Goalkeeper – Mateo Sanchez, Converse

Second Team

Forward – Hayden Gensler, Converse

Forward – Renan Macuglia, North Greenville

Forward – John Osadolor, Francis Marion

Forward – Harrison Watts, Lees-McRae

Midfielder – Sergio Llopart, Young Harris

Midfielder – Leho La Louarn, Young Harris

Midfielder – Feren Nunez, Southern Wesleyan

Defender – Sacha De Corte, Young Harris

Defender – Bjorn Jonasson, Young Harris

Defender – Ian Pitstick, Belmont Abbey

Goalkeeper – Ricardo Marques, North Greenville

Third Team

Forward – Guilherme Semola, Mount Olive

Forward – Matt Fitzer, Emmanuel

Forward – Sam Jordan, Belmont Abbey

Midfielder – Vinicius Silva, North Greenville

Midfielder – Antonio Garda, Francis Marion

Midfielder – Bradley Binns, Chowan

Midfielder – Nicholas Gartung, Converse

Defender – Charlie Birch, Chowan

Defender – Matteo Galeotti, North Greenville

Defender – David Guevara, Francis Marion

Goalkeeper – Gauthier Lumale, KingThe full list of Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer All-Conference selections can be found here.