Lara Named PBC Freshman of the Year, North Georgia Earns Five All-Conference Selections
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Heading into the PBC Semifinals for the first time since 2017, the University of North Georgia men's soccer team has received five selections to the Peach Belt Conference All-Conference team, including Aram Lara being named the PBC Freshman of the Year.
Lara makes waves in his first season at North Georgia, playing in all 18 games for the Nighthawks with 17 starts and over 1,500 minutes on the pitch. He led the team and was ranked third in the PBC with nine assists on the season. He also scored two goals, including the equalizing goal in UNG's 2-1 come-from-behind win over Georgia Southwestern in overtime in the PBC Tournament quarterfinals. He is the first Nighthawk in program history named PBC Freshman of the Year.
Lara is joined on the PBC's first-team All-Conference list by Michael Walsh, with Walsh anchoring a backline of defenders that helped earn UNG five shutouts this season, allowing just one goal six times. Midfielder Santiago Cano earns a spot on the second team, while goalkeeper Hazel Ley and forward Max Garnett also take second-team honors.
North Georgia and their five All-Conference selections earned the third seed in the PBC Tournament, taking down Georgia Southwestern to set up for a match against Lander in the PBC Semifinals on Friday (Nov. 10) at 7:30 p.m.
Latest Men's Soccer Stories Feed
- Jarun Named Assistant Men's Soccer CoachDAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia men's soccer program has added Omar Jarun as a new assistant coach the team announced Friday. Jarun joins head coach Anel Lilic's staff with an abundance of playing and coaching experience.
- 20 UNG Fall Sport Student-Athletes Honored on PBC Teams of Academic DistinctionAUGUSTA, Ga. – Earlier this week the Peach Belt Conference announced the fall sports Teams of Academic Distinction, presented by Barnes & Noble College. The University of North Georgia placed a combined 20 student-athletes from women's cross country (4), women's soccer (11) and men's soccer (5) on the list.
- North Georgia Removes Interim Tag and Names Anel Lilic Head Men’s Soccer CoachDAHLONEGA – Following a national search, Anel Lilic has been named the third head coach in the University of North Georgia men's soccer program's NCAA era. The announcement was made by President Mike Shannon and athletic director Mary Rob Plunkett in a team meeting at the UNG Soccer Field House at Lynn Cottrell Park on Tuesday afternoon.
- Nighthawks End Run in PBC Semifinals Against LanderMORROW, Ga. — In the final game of the 2023-24 season, the University of North Georgia men's soccer team fell 3-0 to Lander in the Peach Belt Conference semifinals. Two first half goals were too much to overcome as the Bearcats earned a shutout to advance to the PBC Tournament title game.
- Walsh's Overtime Winner Sends Nighthawks to PBC SemifinalsDAHLONEGA — An overtime battle ended with the University of North Georgia men's soccer team as victors, picking up a 2-1 win after 110 minutes of action. It was a physical game throughout as the Nighthawks fought through tired legs, using just two subs in the game and overcoming an early 1-0 deficit.
- UNG to Host PBC Soccer Championship Quarterfinal DoubleheaderDAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia will host quarterfinal rounds of the 2023 Peach Belt Conference Men's & Women's Soccer Championship on Monday, Nov. 6 at the UNG Soccer Field at Lynn Cottrell Park. The top-seeded women's team will take on eighth-seeded Georgia Southwestern at 4:00 p.m. before the third-seeded Nighthawk men host the sixth-seeded Hurricanes at 6:30 p.m.