LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Highlighted by tournament MVPs Christian Sakshaug and McCaleb Taylor of Trinity University, the conference office today announced the 2017 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Men's Soccer All-Tournament team.
Trinity took control early and never let up as the Tigers scored a pair of goals in each half to take a 4-0 victory over the University of Dallas in the championship game of the SCAC Men's Soccer Tournament Sunday afternoon on the campus of Dallas.
Offensive tournament MVP Christian Sakshaug led off the scoring with a penalty kick conversion in the game's 17th minute – his second goal of the tournament and his 10th of the season. With the recognition, Sakshaug joins Trinity's Johnny Lawson (2012 and 2014) as the only two-time SCAC tournament Offensive MVP honorees.
Junior goalkeeper McCaleb Taylor came off the bench after starter Blake Lieberman received a red card in the 55th minute of Saturday's 2-1 semifinal win over Austin College to post 35+ minutes of scoreless net-tending. On Sunday, in his first collegiate start, he made six saves in keeping a clean slate to propel the Tigers to the program's sixth consecutive tournament title and 20th overall men's soccer conference championship.
This is the fifth straight year that Trinity has had to defeat the host school on its way to the tournament title.
Trinity had seven players earn all-Tournament recognition, followed by the University of Dallas with five selections. Austin College had two selections and Southwestern and Texas Lutheran each had one honoree.
2017 SCAC Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Christian Sakshaug, Forward, Jr., Trinity University
Thomas Quick, Forward, Sr., Austin College
Hunter Haugland, Forward, So., University of Dallas
Austin Michaelis, Forward, Jr., Trinity University
Jake Swonke, Forward, Jr., Southwestern University
Nat Kajiwara, Forward, Fy., University of Dallas
Luke Schwarz, Midfielder, Sr., University of Dallas
David Ching, Midfielder, Sr., Texas Lutheran University
Andrew Ciancone, Midfielder, Jr., University of Dallas
Jacob Hallenberger, Midfielder, Fy., Trinity University
Brady Johnston, Midfielder, So., Trinity University
Kellen Reid, Defender, Sr., Trinity University
Guy Harris, Defender, Sr., Trinity University
Sean Taylor, Defender, Jr., University of Dallas
McCaleb Taylor, Goalkeeper, Jr., Trinity University
Joseph Khalaf, Goalkeeper, Jr., Austin College