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VMI places four among men's soccer conference honorees

12 Nov, 2008

VMI men's soccer has placed four among those earning Big South Postseason Honors, headlined by goalkeeper Brian Sowell's All-Big South Second Team recognition, as announced Wednesday night at the league's annual men's soccer awards banquet, held in Conway, S.C.

Also earning postseason awards for the Keydets were Daniel Welsh, who was tabbed to the Big South All-Academic Team for the second-consecutive season, as well as freshmen Ayou Sossou and Brandon Gary, who earned All-Freshman Team honors.

Sowell has a standout sophomore season in net for VMI, despite missing the campaign's first three games. He finished the regular season ranked fourth in the Big South in save percentage (76.1%), and eighth in goals against average. The second-year netminder pitched a pair of shutouts, coming in back-to-back games in mid-October, to boost VMI to their two wins of the 2008 campaign. In addition, the Yorktown, Va., native leads the Big South in saves per game, having stopped 5.58 shots per contest, more than 1.3 better than the next-best goalkeeper.

Welsh, a junior from Evans, Ga., has played in 11 games this season for the Keydets. The midfielder scored his first career goal against Coastal Carolina, and has posted additional significant contributions off the field. Welsh holds a 3.80 GPA with academic stars, is an active member of the VMI Cadet Investment Group and holds rank in the Corps of Cadets. The Peach State native has been a multiple-time dean's list honoree, is a multiple-time Big South Presidential Honor Roll recipient and was named to last year's conference all-academic team. In addition, he was recently named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team.

Sossou, who hails from Frederick, Md., is a defender known for his speed and quickness. The freshman has played in 12 games for VMI this season, starting seven, and has been an integral part of the back line thanks to his speed and quickness.

Gary, who also is a defender, was one of the most reliable parts of the VMI starting lineup this season. The Richmond native played in all 16 contests for VMI, one of just three players to do so for the 2008 Keydets. He started 15 of those contests, and frequently showed leadership and tactical skill in his efforts on the back line, as he was often assigned to the opponent's top scorer.

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