Five Bulldogs selected to America East All-Conference team

BOSTON - On Friday morning, five members of the Bryant University men's soccer team were named to the America East All-Conference Team. Junior Marc Pitarch Bayot was named to the first team while seniors Javier Soler Gandia, Vicente Valor Martinez, Abdel Talabi, and Antreas Hadjigavriel were all named to the second team.

This is the first time that the squad has earned All-Conference honors in the America East. The last time the Bulldogs had five players receive All-Conference accolades in a single season was almost a decade ago in 2014.

These five have helped the Bulldogs to a 14-1-2 regular season record which included leading the country in multiple statistics, breaking multiple program records, and earning the first America East wins in program history. Together they combined to rack up 22 goals and 14 assists for a total of 58 points.

Pitarch has played in 16 games this season and started 14. He led the America East in goals for the regular season with 11. His goal total broke Bryant's previous record for goals in a single season. With his five assists, Pitarch also smashed Bryant's points record for a single season. He tallied 27 points in the regular season. Going into the postseason the Ares del Maestrat, Spain native is tied for 15th in the nation in total goals. Pitarch also earned the conference's Offensive Player of the Week award after having a hand in four of the Black and Gold's five goals against Binghamton in Week 10.

Soler has started all 16 games so far this season. He has accumulated five goals, including two game-winning goals, and one assist. He is currently third on the team in scoring and fifth in points. The midfielder from Ontinyent, Spain was named as the America East Defensive Player of the Week 4. He was also named to the Team of the Week by both College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer for the week of 10/15 after scoring the game winning goal against Northeastern.

Valor has made his mark on the program so far this season. He has racked up five goals and seven assists in all 17 games started this year. His seven dishes put him tied for second in the America East in assists. He also currently sits second on the team in points with 17. The San Juan, Spain native has been named America East Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions as well as being named to the Team of the Week by both College Soccer News and TopDrawerSoccer.

Talabi has had a stellar senior season. After sitting out due to injury last season, the Brewster, Mass. native has played in all but one game and started 15. Talabi scored the game-winning goal in the Bulldogs' home opener against CCSU this season to help him grab the conference's Defensive Player of the Week accolade in Week 1. He has been an anchor in a Bryant defense that has only allowed four goals through 17 games and consistently led the nation in defensive statistical categories.

Hadjigavriel earned the starting spot in net this season after only appearing in two games last year. He has started all 17 games and made a total 31 saves in the regular season. He has also posted a nation leading .235 goals against average and 13 shutouts. The Nicosia, Cyprus product is also currently second in the nation in save percentage at .886. His excellence in goal earned Hadjigavriel America East Defensive Player of the Week accolades in Week 8.