University of Maine football players Bruce Johnson and Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga were named to the Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Conference first team, the league announced Tuesday.
Johnson, a junior center, served as Maine’s leader on the offensive line, starting all 11 games at center. He played a large part in building Maine’s run game.
Sophomore linebacker Mulumba Tshimanga earned first-team honors for the second straight year after leading the Black Bears with 95 tackles. He ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game (8.6) and fourth on the team in tackles for a loss (8.0).
Other Black Bears earning All-CAA honors included junior defensive end Trevor Bates and senior kick returner Damarr Aultman on the second team and senior cornerback Axel Ofori on the third team. Aultman also was a third-team selection as a receiver.
Bates, on the third team last season, recorded 60 tackles, third best on the team, and ranked second in total tackles among all CAA defensive linemen with 5.5 per game.
Aultman ranked second in the league in kickoff return yards (23 per game) and 10th in all- purpose yards with 104.5. Aultman led the Black Bears in receptions (48), receiving yards (498) and receiving yards per game (45.3) with two touchdowns.
Ofori saw action in nine games and recorded 20 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
The CAA named Villanova quarterback John Robertson its offensive player of the year and William & Mary defensive lineman Mike Reilly its defensive player of the year.
New Hampshire’s Sean McDonnell was voted the league’s coach of the year.
Husson’s Dance, Smith gain honors
Husson University football players Stephan Dance and John Smith have been named to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Team.
Dance, a senior defensive back, notched 74 tackles to go with two interceptions and five pass breakups. He led a defense that gave up a league-low 18.4 points per game and tied for the lead with 19 interceptions and 27 sacks.
Smith, a first-year running back, led the conference with a school-record 1,408 rushing yards and also led the league with 13 touchdowns. He finished the season with eight straight 100-yard rushing games, including a pair of 200-yard contests.
Husson soccer teams receive academic awards
The Husson University men’s and women’s soccer teams have been honored with National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Awards for the 2013-14 academic year.
The men’s team, under the guidance of head coach Jeff Gettler, accumulated a 3.15 grade point average. It is the first time in program history a Husson men’s team received the honor.
The women’s team, led by head coach Carly Gettler, accumulated an 3.30 grade point average. The women’s team was honored for the second consecutive season and third time in program history.
Husson was one of just 195 schools in the country across all divisions to have both its men’s and women’s soccer teams honored.