CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday (Nov. 8) the recipients of its end-of-season awards as well as the 2023 All-ACC men’s soccer teams after a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches.
Mouhameth Thiam was named Co-Midfielder of the Year and Stephen Annor received the Freshman of the Year award. Thiam and Annor were both All-ACC First Team selections. Annor and Brendan Lambe each made the all-freshman team.
Thiam becomes the first Virginia player to be named ACC Co-Midfielder of the Year since Joe Bell won the award outright in 2019. Thiam has started each of Virginia’s 17 games as a graduate transfer. His 14 points on the season with five goals and four assists rank second on the team in each respective category. Thiam has been crucial in the clutch for the Cavaliers having been involved in six of Virginia’s 10 game-winning goals this season (2 goals, 4 assists).
Annor was named ACC Freshman of the Year while picking up first team and all-freshman honors on the heels of a sensational season. He becomes the first Cavalier to earn the honor since Tony Tchani in 2008. The Cavalier standout scored 10 goals overall with seven in league play, a mark that is tied for the league lead. His total makes him the first Cavalier to hit double figures since Daryl Dike scored 10 goals in 2019. With five game-winning goals, Annor is tied for seventh in NCAA Division I—just two off the leading mark.
Lambe was named to the ACC All-Freshman team after an impressive season in which he has been utilized primarily as a substitute. A product of Atlanta United 2, Lambe appeared in 16 regular season games as a substitute and made his first start in the ACC quarterfinal round. The freshman played an important role off the bench averaging 34 minutes per game as a holding midfielder.
By the Numbers:
- Virginia is one of two teams with multiple individuals receiving season awards
- The Cavaliers are one of three teams with two All-ACC First Team selections
- UVA is one of two teams with two all-freshmen selections
- Virginia has had at least one all-freshman selection in 15 of the last 16 seasons
2023 ACC Men’s Soccer Season Honors
Offensive Player of the Year – Forster Ajago, Gr., F, Duke
Defensive Player of the Year – Garrison Tubbs, Sr., D, Wake Forest
Co-Midfielder of the Year – Jeorgio Kocevski, Sr., Syracuse; Mouhameth Thiam, Sr., Virginia
Goalkeeper of the Year – Bryan Dowd, Notre Dame
Freshman of the Year – Stephen…