Rome, GA - The N.C. Wesleyan men's soccer team made an indelible mark on the 2024 USA South All-Conference awards, earning recognition across the board, highlighted by Head Coach Mark Bowman being named Coach of the Year for the second time in his tenure. Bowman's leadership has propelled the Battling Bishops to a perfect 7-0-0 record in conference play, capturing the program's 11th regular season USA South title. Under Bowman's guidance, Wesleyan is the first team since 2019 to finish the conference schedule unbeaten and untied, and have posted a 9-3-4 overall record this season.
Bowman Earns Coach of the Year Honors
In his third season as head coach, Bowman has turned the Bishops into a dominant force in the USA South. Wesleyan's impressive 7-0-0 mark in conference play earned the Bishops the USA South Regular Season Championship.
First-Team All-Conference Honors
The Battling Bishops also featured several key players on the First-Team All-Conference list, beginning with Tiago Feler, who has been a standout for Wesleyan all season. Feler has contributed fourteen points, including six goals, providing the offensive spark the Bishops needed to secure their perfect conference record.
Joining Feler on the First-Team is Carson Evans, whose consistency and versatility in the midfield have been integral to the Bishops' success. Evans played in all sixteen matches, contributing a goal and logging over 1,000 minutes of action, helping control the pace of play and providing a key presence in the middle of the field.
Defender Bastien Dechamps also earned First-Team honors for his rock-solid play at the back. Hailing from France, Dechamps not only anchored the defensive line but also contributed offensively, scoring three goals this season. His well-rounded performance was critical to Wesleyan's defensive stability and ability to maintain a perfect conference record.
Second-Team All-Conference Selections
Wesleyan continued to showcase its depth with several players earning Second-Team All-Conference honors. Daan Post, the team's starting left-back, was recognized for his standout defensive play. Post appeared in all 16 matches, playing over 1,000 minutes, and contributed two points from his position on the back line. His tenacity and ability to contribute both defensively and offensively were key to the Bishops' success.
In goal, Rafael Farina was also named to the Second-Team. Farina has been a steady presence between the posts for Wesleyan, saving 51 shots and averaging 1.23 saves per game. His 8-3-4 record on the season reflects his consistency and ability to perform under pressure. Farina's ability to make crucial saves in tight matches was vital to the Bishops' strong conference run.
