CORVALLIS, Ore. – The 2023 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men's Soccer postseason awards were announced Thursday by the conference office.
No. 20-ranked Southern Oregon University swept the player awards with Adrian Villegas being named the Rize Laboratory Offensive Player of the Year and Casey Ruvolo earned the Rize Laboratory Defensive Player of the Year. Jose Vasquez of University of Providence was selected the Newcomer of the Year. Carroll College's head coach Austin Shick and Southern Oregon's Davie Carmichael were named the Co-Coaches of the Year. Walla Walla University grabbed the Team Sportsmanship Award.
Villegas, a senior midfielder/forward from Hood River, Ore., was a huge asset to the Raiders explosive offense, leading SOU to a 12-1 conference record. He finished the regular season leading the CCC in points, averaging 2.33 a game (10th in NAIA) and assists with 10 total (12th in NAIA). He also ranked fourth in goals (0.75 Avg/G) and completed three game winning shots this conference season. He has etched his name in the history books as one of the top goal scorers in SOU history.
Ruvolo, a sophomore goalkeeper from New River, Ariz., helped lead the Raiders to reach a CCC Regular Season title for the first time in five years. He topped the CCC in several areas including, save percentage (.923%), goals against (0.27 Avg/G), and shutouts with seven total this conference season. He was also named the CCC Rize Laboratory Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week twice this year.
Vasquez, a freshman forward from Acarigua, Venezuela, had an incredible first season with the Argos. He helped Providence reach a 5-6-2 conference record, good enough for a six seed in the CCC Tournament. He led the conference with 12 goals, while placing second in shots (3.58 Avg/G) and Points (2.08 Avg/G). He was also named the CCC Rize Laboratory Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week this year.
Shick led the Fighting Saints to new heights in his first season. After being ranked 11th in the CCC preseason poll, Carroll quickly turned things around, ending the regular season with a 8-2-3 record, securing a fourth seed in the CCC Tournament. In the conference, Carroll ranked third in shots (15.92) and in goals allowed (1.08). Several Fighting Saints were also named Rize Laboratory Men's Soccer Players of the Week this season and three were named to all-conference teams.
Carmichael led the Raiders to finish the regular season with a 18-2 overall record. In his 6th season he is currently leading his team on a 11-game win streak as they continue into the postseason. Overall, Southern Oregon led the conference by averaging 3.15 goals per game while only allowing opponents 0.46 goals against. The team is currently ranked 11th for points in the NAIA. The regular-season champs saw six Raiders earn all-conference, with five earning spots on the first team.
The full 2023 CCC All-Conference team can be found, HERE.