College Men’s Soccer News – Guilford Lands Two on All-South Atlantic Region Teams

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Freddy Gomez (Valparaiso, Chile / Williams (N.C.)) and Ronnie Castellanos (San Pedro Sula, Honduras /North Forsyth (N.C.)) both earned All-South Atlantic Region honors Thursday from the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America (NSCAA). Gomez, a third-team selection, was a second-team all-region pick in 2011 and first-team honoree in 2010. Castellanos received all-region honors for the first time. The Quakers last had two all-region men’s soccer players in 2004.

The all-region honorees were nominated and selected by NCAA Division III soccer coaches. The NSCAA’s South Atlantic region includes select New Jersey and Pennsylvania schools, as well as colleges and universities in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

Castellanos, a 5-5 midfielder, started in 17 games for the Quakers this season and earned First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) recognition. He scored two goals and contributed five assists, which ranked first on the team and 10th in school history. Castellanos led the ODAC in assists and assists per game (0.29). He scored at least one point in seven different games, including the Sept. 19 win over Ferrum College, when he netted the game-winning goal.

In his 67 career games at Guilford, Castellanos totaled 47 career points on 17 goals and 13 assists. He leaves ranked 11th among the Quakers’ career scoring leaders and seventh in career assists. Castellanos intends to graduate in the spring with degrees in accounting and Spanish.

Gomez, a 5-6 midfielder, started in 15 of 18 games and tallied a career-high 12 goals on the year, which rank 11th in school history. He also had one assist for 25 points on the season, the best mark on the squad. Also a First Team All-ODAC honoree, Gomez led the league with 1.67 points and 0.80 goals per game. He stands second in the conference in points and goals. His four game-winning goals stand fourth in the league. Gomez’s best appearances came against Averett University Sept. 2 and versus conference-rival Emory & Henry College Oct. 3, when he scored two goals in both of the Quakers’ wins.

In his 71 career games as a Quaker, Gomez netted 42 goals and 12 assists, which rank second and ninth in school history, respectively. His 96 career points stand third all-time at Guilford. He earned first-team honors for the third straight season this year after receiving Second Team All-ODAC recognition as a freshman. Gomez is Guilford’s first three-time first-team All-ODAC men’s soccer honoree and joins Tim Imafidon ’02 as the Quakers’ lone four-time All-ODAC selections. Gomez plans to graduate in May with a degree in Spanish.

Castellanos and Gomez helped seventh-year head coach Jeff Bateson’s Quakers to a 10-8 record, 7-4 in the ODAC. Bateson expects as many as 15 letter winners back in 2013.