BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Four members of the Bridgewater State University men's soccer team have been selected to the the 2023 United Soccer Coaches Division III Men’s Soccer All-Region Two Team.
Senior forward David Nelson, freshman midfielder Nicholas Ribeiro and graduate goalkeeper William Russell garnered second team honors while sophomore midfielder Filippo Mucci earned third team accolades.
Nelson, Ribeiro, Russell and Mucci are the Bears' first all-region selections since Kessy Alves garnered All-New England third team accolades in 2018. They are also among eight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) student-athletes to earn the honor in 2023, joining junior forward Vanilton Xavier, junior defender James Meli, senior midfielder Brendan Walsh and graduate defender Dylan Senra of Salem State University.
Nelson recorded 11 goals and six assists for 28 points in 19 games this season. The East Bridgewater, Massachusetts product led the MASCAC in scoring and tied for second in goals. He also ranked third among the conference leaders in game-winning goals and tied for third in assists.
In 75 games over four seasons at Bridgewater State, Nelson amassed 30 goals and 16 assists for 76 points. Eight of his 30 goals were game-winners. Nelson ranks second among the Bears' all-time leaders in scoring, third in goals and fourth in games played.
Ribeiro notched six goals and ten assists for 22 points in 20 games as he is one of three Bears to play in every game. He led the MASCAC in assists and ranked second in game-winning goals (4) and fourth in scoring. The Bellingham, Massachusetts product also tied for fifth among the conference leaders in goals.
On a national level, Ribeiro tied for 15th in all of Division III in assists and tied for 41st in game-winning goals.
In 19 games this season, Russell posted a 12-3-4 record with seven shutouts and a 0.95 goals against average in 1,700-plus minutes (1700:26) of work. He turned aside 112 shots and recorded an .862 save percentage.
Russell, who calls Sandwich, Massachusetts home, led the MASCAC in minutes played, wins and saves. He also finished second among the conference leaders in shutouts and save percentage as well as goals against average.
On a national level, Russell tied for ninth in all of Division III in saves. He also ranked 14th in save percentage, 40th in minutes played and tied for 40th in shutouts.
In 49 games over four seasons at Bridgewater State, Russell posted a 25-15-8 mark with 14 1/2 shutouts, a 1.17 goals against average, 291 saves and an .839 save percentage in just under 4,314 minutes (4313:53) of work. He is second among the Bears' all-time goaltending leaders in goals against average and is fifth in both wins and shutouts.
Mucci, who hails from Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, tallied six goals, including two game-winners, to go along with three assists for 15 points in 19 games this season. He tied for fourth in the MASCAC in game-winning goals, tied for fifth in goals and ranked seventh in scoring.
In 31 games over two seasons in a BSU uniform, Mucci has eight goals and three assists for 19 points.
Earlier this month, all four were named to the All-MASCAC Team with Ribeiro, Russell and Mucci earning first team honors while Nelson was voted to the second team. Ribeiro was also selected as the MASCAC Co-Rookie of the Year.
Nelson, Ribeiro, Russell and Mucci helped the BSU men's soccer team post a 12-3-5 record in 2023 including a 6-0-1 conference mark as the Bears' captured both the MASCAC regular season and tournament titles and advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the seventh time in program history.
2023 United Soccer Coaches Division III Men's Soccer All-Region Two Team (PDF)