NEW ORLEANS – Marshall sophomore forward Matthew Bell was named the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year to headline the 2023 Sun Belt Men’s Soccer Awards and All-Conference Teams, announced on Friday. The honors were voted upon by the league’s 10 head coaches. 
 
Player of the Year | Offensive Player of the Year
Matthew Bell, Marshall
[SO | F | Kingston, Jamaica]
 
Marshall’s Matthew Bell is the Sun Belt Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year after a standout season that saw him start all 15 matches in which he saw action. The sophomore forward started his season on a high note, recording the first hat trick of his career on nine shots, including four on goal, in the season opener against Oakland. The two-time Offensive Player of the Week continued this momentum throughout the season, recording eight multi-point games including one multi-goal effort. Bell tops the Sun Belt with 26 points in 2023, a mark that ranks 17^th nationally. His 10 assists this season also leads the league and is fourth in the country. The Kingston, Jamaica, native was named to the 2023 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy Watch List prior to the start of the 2023 season. 
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Morris Duggan, Marshall
[SR | D | Munich, Germany]
 
Marshall’s Morris Duggan played a pivotal role on the Herd’s defensive unit to help lead his squad to an impressive 14-2 record and 7-2 mark in Sun Belt play. The senior, who started all 14 matches in which he saw action, played 1,062 on the pitch and helped the back line to a conference-best .750 goals-against average, a mark that ranks 14^th nationally. The Munich, Germany, native organized a defensive structure that limited league foes to just 10 goals in nine matches. The Herd also finished the regular season with a conference-best nine shutouts. 
 
Goalkeeper of the Year
Gabriel Perrotta, Marshall
[GR. | GK | Asuncion, Paraguay]
 
Marshall’s Gabriel Perrotta helped cement the Herd’s first-ever Sun Belt Regular Season title. He played 1,434 minutes between the posts, stopping eight shots and boasting a conference-best .753 goals against average, a mark that ranks 18^th nationally. The graduate keeper boasts a league-best 8.5 shutouts, including four in Sun Belt action. 
   
Freshman of the Year
Saku Heiskanen, UCF
[FR | M | Espoo, Finland]

UCF’s Saku Heiskanen had a standout rookie season, starting 10 of 14 matches for the Knights. The Espoo, Finland, native started his season with a spark, scoring one goal while adding an assist in UCF’s season-opening upset of then-No. 9 Clemson. Heiskanen was crucial in the Knights’ climb to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, racking up 10 points (4g, 2a) while logging 890 minutes of action. The freshman midfielder finished the regular season with 25 shots, 12 of which came on goal. 
 
Newcomer of the Year
Clarence Awoudor, UCF
[SO | F | Saint-Lo, France]
 
UCF’s Clarence Awoudor made an immediate impact on the Knights’ squad, starting 12 of 14 matches. The Saint-Lo, France, native, played a major role in the Knights’ rise to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, tallying three goals and three assists on the season. In 960 minutes of action, Awoudor registered 18 shots, hitting 11 on target. 
 

Coach of the Year
Scott Calabrese, UCF
 
UCF head coach Scott Calabrese earned his first career Sun Belt Coach of the Year accolade. Calabrese led his squad to an impressive 10-2-2 record, 6-2-1 mark in Sun Belt play. Under his direction, the Knights, who started the season unranked, climbed to No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. UCF wrapped up the regular season with back-to-back weeks at No. 1, while also going eight straight weeks with a top five national ranking and 10 consecutive weeks with a top 15 spot in the organization’s poll. 
 
First Team All-Conference
F – Matthew Bell, Marshall
F – Marcus Caldeira, West Virginia
F – Lucca Dourado, UCF
F – Yutaro Tsukada, West Virginia
M – Ethan Dekel Daks, South Carolina
M – Clay Obara, James Madison
M – Simon Carlson, Georgia State
D – Zane Bubb, UCF
D – Morris Duggan, Marshall
D – Luca Nikolai, James Madison
GK – Gabriel Perrotta, Marshall
 
Second Team All-Conference
F – Saku Heiskanen, UCF
F – Adam Luckhurst, South Carolina
F – Rodrigo Robles, James Madison
M – Taimu Okiyoshi, Marshall
M – AJ Seals, UCF
M – Kevin Larsson, James Madison
M – Luke McCormick, West Virginia
D – Anderson Rosa, UCF
D – Frederik Jorgensen, West Virginia
D – Max Miller, Kentucky
GK – Jackson Lee, West Virginia