HARRISON, N.J. (December 23, 2015) – Fifteen members of the New York Red Bulls Academy have been recognized with NCAA Division I awards for the 2015 season. The players represent 10 conferences and 13 institutions. The 15 players are made up of six seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen.
The list includes Homegrown Players Brandon Allen, Derrick Etienne, Alex Muyl, Chris Thorsheim and Mael Corboz, who all signed with New York Red Bulls this week.
Class of 2016
Brandon Allen – Georgetown
Brandon Allen (Old Bridge, N.J.) is a finalist for the 2015 MAC Hermann trophy, the highest individual award in college soccer. The forward helped Georgetown to both BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament titles, earning 2015 All-BIG EAST First Team recognition for his efforts. He was also named a NSCAA First Team All-American and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region. Allen scored his 50th career goal for the Hoyas which set a program record in a season that he led the team in goals (12) and points (31). Allen signed with New York Red Bulls on Dec. 21, 2015 as a Homegrown Player.
Mael Corboz – Maryland
Mael Corboz (Green Brook, N.J.) was the Terps’ captain this season and led his side to the Big Ten Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth. The midfielder was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, All-Academic Big Ten and a senior CLASS Award candidate. Corboz finished his senior season with two goals and a team-leading 12 assists. He concludes his college career with 12 goals and 15 assists in two years at Maryland, and 10 goals and 13 assists as an underclassmen at Rutgers. Corboz signed as a Homegrown Player for New York Red Bulls on Dec. 23, 2015.
Joe Farrell – La Salle
Joe Farrell (Blue Bell, Pa.) was named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Region for the fourth consecutive season. He split time as both a forward and defender this fall, finishing the season with two goals and three assists. Farrell ends his college career tied for third all-time at La Salle in games played with 76, including 74 starts. He’s also tied for eighth in program history with 16 career assists, and has scored 16 goals as a four-year starter for a total of 48 career points.
Sean Sheridan – Villanova
Sean Sheridan (Levittown, Pa.) fought to overcome a series of injuries to lead Villanova in scoring as a senior with eight goals, four of which were game-winners. The midfielder was named 2015 First Team All-BIG EAST and NSCAA Second Team All-Great Lakes Region after starting all 17 games for the Wildcats and leading the team in points (19). Over the course of his career, in which he played as a defender and a midfielder, Sheridan contributed nine goals and 15 assists.
Antonio Matarazzo – Columbia
Antonio Matarazzo (Fair Lawn, N.J.) logged 1,410 minutes in 16 starts for Columbia this season. He played primarily as a defensive midfielder and was named Second Team All-Ivy League and NSCAA All-East Region. In his four years with the Lions, Matarazzo started 45 out of 49 games and totaled seven goals and four assists.
Chris Thorsheim – Bucknell
Chris Thorsheim (Manalapan, N.J.) was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List in the lead up to the 2015 season. He finished the year ranked fourth in the Patriot League in points and fifth in both goals and assists, earning himself Patriot League First Team, Second Team All-Northeast Region, CoSIDA Academic All-District and Patriot League All-Academic Team honors. Thorsheim started all 18 games for the Bisons this season and finished with eight goals and six assists. At the end of his college career, the midfielder played in 80 games for Bucknell and totaled 20 goals and 18 assists. Thorsheim signed as a Homegrown Player with New York Red Bulls on Dec. 23, 2015.
Class of 2017
Adam Najem – Akron
Adam Najem (Clifton, N.J.) was named a MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List player before the season even started, the highest individual award in college soccer. The midfielder started all 23 games for Akron, registering team-high marks in assists (11), points (31), shots (68), shots on goal (31) and game-winners (4), while ranking second in goals (10). He was named All-MAC First Team, NSCAA Second Team All-America and Academic All-MAC. He also helped the Zips win the MAC Championship and advance to the 2015 NCAA Final Four in Kansas City. Najem was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Men’s Postseason Best XI First Team for his performance in the MAC and NCAA Tournaments.
Alex Muyl – Georgetown
Alex Muyl (New York, N.Y.) was Georgetown’s second-leading scorer overall with six goals and a team-best 10 assists for 22 points. His 10 assists ranked him second in the league and eighth in the nation, and the forward was named to the 2015 All-BIG EAST Second Team and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region for his outstanding season. Muyl scored the game-winning goal for the Hoyas in double overtime to clinch the BIG EAST Tournament championship and helped his team as far as the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The forward signed with New York Red Bulls on Dec. 22, 2015 as a Homegrown Player.
Oscar Gonzalez – Iona
Oscar Gonzalez (Clifton, N.J.) started 18 matches for Iona this season and was named Second Team All-MAAC. The Iona captain posted two goals and four assists this season, including a game-winning goal in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament.
Class of 2018
Arun Basuljevic – Georgetown
Arun Basuljevic (Mahopac, N.Y.) was named to the 2015 All-BIG EAST First Team after starting all 21 games and helping Georgetown win both the BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament titles. The midfielder completed the season with six goals, five of which were game-winners, and four assists. Basuljevic was also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Best XI, one year after being named 2014 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year.
Harrison Steadman – Charlotte
Harrison Steadman (Kinnelon, N.J.) was named to the NCCSIA Second Team All-State for a successful second season. He was third on the team with three goals and appeared in all but one of Charlotte’s matches, making two starts. His three assists were third most on the team.
Anthony Viteri – Boston University
Anthony Viteri (Flushing, N.Y.) was named Patriot League First Team and NSCAA All-Northeast Region list in his first season with the Terriers. After transferring from St. John’s as a freshman, Viteri started 15 of 16 games and finished with the second most goals on the team. He had six goals, three of which were game-winners, and two assists in 2015.
Class of 2019
Derrick Etienne – Virginia
Derrick Etienne (Paterson, N.J.) was elected to the ACC All-Freshman Team for an impressive first college season. The midfielder tallied two goals, both game-winners, and totaled five points in his rookie season. Etienne was later named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Men’s Postseason Freshman Best XI Second Team for his performance in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Prior to the college season, he played 17 games and made 10 starts in his first professional season with New York Red Bulls II. Etienne signed with New York Red Bulls on Dec. 21, 2015 as a Homegrown Player.
Cameron Harr – Marist
Cameron Harr (Morris Plains, N.J.) was named 2015 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Rookie in his freshman season. The forward was the only Marist player to start all 18 games, and led his side in goals (8), points (16), shots (43), shots on goal (21) and game-winning goals (2).
Juan Sebastian Sanchez – Tulsa
Juan Sebastian Sanchez (Ossining, N.Y.) was named 2015 AAC Rookie of the Year, AAC All-Rookie Team and NCAA All-East Region. The forward played in all 21 games for Tulsa and was instrumental in helping the Hurricanes win the American Athletic Conference title and NCAA Tournament berth. Sanchez led the team in goals (8), points (19) and game-winning goals (2). The former New York Red Bulls II player scored two goals in two NCAA Tournament matches to get Tulsa to the Second Round. Sanchez was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Men’s Postseason Freshman Best XI First Team for his play in the AAC and NCAA Tournaments.
