Point Park Men's Soccer earns six All-River States Conference selections for 2023
PITTSBURGH -- Point Park University men's soccer had six of its starters earn All-River States Conference honors for 2023. The Pioneers had two on the first team, three on the second team, one on the third team and also a River States Conference Champions of Character Team honoree.
The All-RSC Teams included 14 players each. Each of the teams featured four forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and two goalkeepers. Except in cases were ties existed, such as the five forwards on the first team. The teams were voted on by the 11 head coaches in the RSC.
Seniors Philipp Harder and Jaume Genovard led the Pioneers both earning spots on the All-RSC First Team. Harder, a center midfielder, was the top-ranked midfielder in the conference as he got the most votes in that position category. Genovard was one of the five forwards on the first team. For leading the midfielder category in votes, Harder was one of the finalistes for RSC Player of the Year and RSC Offensive Player of the Year.
Point Park's defense was well-represented on the All-RSC Second Team with sophomore goalkeeper Eduard Garcia and junior center backs Bruno Lancellotti and Ed Bowers all making that list. Alexis Lamontagne, a junior center midfielder, earned a spot on the All-RSC Third Team.
Matheus Lima, a senior forward, was Point Park's representative on the RSC Champions of Character Team. Each school nominated one individual who best exhibits the NAIA's five character traits of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
For the complete list of All-RSC Teams & Awards, click here. See below for Point Park's honorees
PHILIPP HARDER (M., Sr., Kiel, Germany) -- All-RSC FIRST TEAM
Harder led the entire conference with 15 goals and was second in the conference for points with 35. He also led the RSC with six game-winning goals in the Pioneers' 10 victories. He made five assists on the year. Harder started all 19 games this year, his second season at Point Park since transferring from NAIA Westcliff (Calif.) University. In two years with the Pioneers, he had 24 goals, 10 assists and 58 points. A team captain, he was named All-RSC First Team both of his seasons at Point Park.
JAUME GENOVARD (F, Sr., Palma de Mallorca, Spain) -- ALL-RSC FIRST TEAM
Genovard had seven goals, five assists and 19 points on the season, his second at Point Park since transferring from Missouri Valley College. He ranked 14th in the conference for points and tied for the team lead in assists. Genovard also had three game-winning goals to tie for third in the league. Genovard started 23 games for the Pioneers the last two years putting up 10 goals, nine assists and 29 points during that time.
EDUARD GARCIA (GK, So., Sant Celoni, Spain) -- ALL-RSC SECOND TEAM
Garcia earned all-conference honors for the second year in a row. He moved up from honorable mention last year to second team this year to rank among the top four goalkeepers in the league. His sophomore season included starting all 19 games and playing all but 19 minutes of the season. He notched 10 victories and seven shutouts. Garcia's goals-against average was 1.44 over 90 minutes with 27 goals allowed in 19 games. He has started 31 games the last two years with 14 victories.
BRUNO LANCELLOTTI (D, Jr., Ceuta, Spain) -- ALL-RSC SECOND TEAM
Lancellotti was one of the four defenders on the second team. In his first year after transferring from NCAA Division II Erskine (S.C.) College, the native of Spain started all 12 games in which he played. He scored a goal versus Brescia, which was the game-winner. Lancellotti was a key part of a defense that gave up less than a goal and a half per game.
ED BOWERS (D, Jr., Plymouth, England) -- ALL-RSC SECOND TEAM
Bowers came to Point Park this year from NAIA school Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) University. He entered the starting lineup in the fifth game and solidified the defense as the Pioneers hit a winning stride a few weeks into the season. Bowers played in 14 games and earned 12 starts in a row before missing the last three games -- including two playoff games. The Pioneers gave up nine goals in the games in which he started.
ALEXIS LAMONTAGNE (M, Jr., Quebec City, Canada) -- ALL-RSC THIRD TEAM
Lamontagne made an impact on the Point Park midfield in his first year since transferring from NCAA Division I program Old Dominion (Va.). He started all 17 games in which he played at defensive center midfield. Lamontagne scored four points on the year with one goal and two assists. His biggest influence was felt on the defensive half of the field controlling things in front of the Pioneers' backline and getting the ball forward.
MATHEUS LIMA (Sr., F., Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) -- RSC CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM
Lima completed his three-year career with the Pioneers playing in 19 games and starting six times. He leads all active players with 54 caps for the Pioneers, including 37 starts. He scored seven points this year (2 goals, 3 assists) to give him 27 points for his career (8 goals, 11 assists)