MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) announced its 2025 Men's Soccer End-of-Year Awards, and the University of Tennessee Southern was well represented among the league's honorees following another strong campaign under head coach Bret Boylan.
UT Southern was selected as the 2025 SSAC Sportsmanship Award recipient, honoring the Firehawks' commitment to integrity, respect, and fair play throughout the season. Boylan's squad finished the year with an 8-6-3 overall record and advanced to the SSAC Quarterfinals.
Individually, five Firehawks earned All-Conference recognition for their performances on the pitch, while 12 were named to the Athletic Solutions All-Academic Team, highlighting the program's success both on the field and in the classroom.
All-Conference Selections
Louis Hester – First-Team All-Conference (Goalkeeper)
The senior goalkeeper anchored the Firehawks' defense all season, starting all 17 matches and recording 57 saves with a 1.52 goals-against average and a .687 save percentage. Hester tallied five shutouts, including clean sheets against Bryan, Dalton State, and Point, serving as a key leader in the back line.
Mak Binder – Second-Team All-Conference (Forward)
Binder paced the Firehawk offense with seven goals and five assists, totaling 19 points on the season. The junior forward was one of the most consistent attacking threats in the SSAC, netting three game-winning goals and converting at a 21.9% shot rate. His scoring highlights included multi-goal performances in wins over Tennessee Wesleyan and Brewton-Parker.
Filippo Fregoli – Second-Team All-Conference (Midfielder)
Fregoli was the creative spark in the midfield, finishing the year with five goals and a team-high seven assists for 17 total points. The sophomore contributed to multiple decisive moments, including five game-winning involvements, and converted shots at an impressive 26.3% rate.
Benjamin Chretien – Second-Team All-Conference (Defender)
Chretien was a steady force along the back line and also contributed offensively with four goals and one assist. A dual threat in set-piece situations, he converted both of his penalty kick attempts and added one game-winning goal across 16 appearances.
All-Freshman Team
Filippo Fregoli – Midfielder
Fregoli's two-way impact as a first-year standout earned him All-Freshman honors to pair with his Second-Team selection, underscoring his emergence as one of the league's top young midfielders.
Felix Hammel – Midfielder
Hammel made an immediate impact in his debut season, playing in 16 matches and totaling two goals and two assists. The freshman midfielder posted a 54.5% shots-on-goal rate, helping control tempo and transition in the UTS midfield.
Daquan Duhaney – Midfielder
Duhaney appeared in 14 contests, scoring three goals with one assist while maintaining a 25% shot conversion rate. His athleticism and work rate made him a valuable addition in the central midfield rotation.
Matthaus Mayrhofer – Defender
Mayrhofer earned All-Freshman honors after appearing in 15 matches as a reliable defender. The first-year center back added one goal and was part of a back line that helped produce five shutouts on the year.
Champions of Character Team
Riley Barratt – UT Southern
Barratt, a senior defender, represented the Firehawks on the SSAC Champions of Character Team. He played in all 17 matches this season, recording one goal and one assist, while embodying the five core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character initiative: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
Athletic Solutions All-Academic Team – UT Southern Honorees
Riley Barratt
Mak Binder
Benjamin Chretien
George Grice
Louis Hester
Dakota Jackson
Hector Garcia
Daniel McCarthy
Hunter McGourty
Nick Miske
Esteban Rangel
UT Southern's collection of awards reflects a balanced program culture of competitiveness, leadership, and academic achievement under Coach Boylan's guidance.
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