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.
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