Trio of PSUGA Soccer Players Honored as All-Conference Players
The PSUAC Announced their 2018-2019 Men's Soccer all-conference list on Monday and a trio of PSUGA players were honored. Senior Belmo Nurkic and freshman Idriss Benjelloun were named second-team all-conference and sophomore Colin Bucsok was named an honorable mention.
McKeesport, PA. – The Penn State University Athletic Conference announced the 2018-2019 Men’s Soccer All-Conference list on Monday and three Penn State Greater Allegheny soccer players made the list. Senior Belmo Nurkic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) and freshman Idriss Benjelloun (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township HS) received second team all-conference honors while sophomore Colin Bucsok (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson HS) was named an honorable mention at Goalkeeper.
All three players played big roles in leading their team to a fifth straight PSUAC playoff appearance as well as an appearance in the PSUAC Semifinal round for the second straight season. After finishing the regular season with a 7-4-2 record, they would defeat PSU-York in the Quarterfinal round 4-1 before their eventual 4-0 loss to Brandywine.
Nurkic had his best season in a PSUGA soccer uniform leading the offense throughout the season. He led the team in goals (12), Assists (6), Points (30), Shots (49), and shots on goal (31) setting career highs in all five of those categories. Along with his impressive work in the field, he also appeared in three games as a goalkeeper and made 20 saves while allowing just four goals in 129 minutes played.
Benjelloun burst onto the scene in his freshman season as one of the top defensive players for PSUGA. He was a very vocal player helping his midfielders get into the best position to make scoring opportunities happen. While a strong defensive player, Benjelloun got in on the action on the offensive side of the ball as well scoring three goals and being the only PSUGA player to start and play in all 14 of his team’s games.
Bucsok rounds out the trio coming off another fine year in net. In 13 games for PSUGA, Bucsok allowed 23 goals while making 100 saves for a career low 1.78 goals against average. Bucsok also put his name in the record books this season in the team’s 9-0 win over Westmoreland County CC. That game marked his 13th career win making him the all-time winningest goalie in PSUGA Men’s Soccer history.
Nurkic, Bucsok, and Benjelloun all had successful season and played their role in another PSUAC playoff run. With two of the three returning next season, they will look to continue the winning tradition that has been instilled in the men’s soccer program over the last five years.