Four Huskies named All-CAA
Kilkenny finished up his career as a Husky in impressive fashion, racking up career highs with seven goals and nine assists for 23 points. Those stats put the senior in elite company in the CAA, as he was second in both points and assists and seventh in goals. Kilkenny also led the conference with 77 shot attempts, which was 13 more than the runner-up.
The Bray Wicklow, Ireland, native really turned it on when the Huskies needed it. The Huskies went 6-2-1 to finish the regular season and get into the CAA playoffs, and in those nine games Kilkenny scored five goals and added four assists for 14 points. He also scored the Huskies’ lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in the CAA Quarterfinals. Following up an All-CAA second team selection in 2006, Kilkenny is now fifth in the Husky record books in career goals (18), assists (14) and points (50).
Okland, a sophomore defender, has now earned All-CAA honors in both of his seasons at Northeastern. Last year Okland was named to the All-Rookie team after moving from midfield to defense, where he helped the Huskies to a 6-2-1 October in which they only allowed seven goals.
As the leader of the Husky defense, the Asker, Norway, native again helped Northeastern in a late-season run to make the CAA Playoffs. After starting off 2-7, the Huskies repeated their late season heroics, going 6-2-1 in their last nine regular season games and again allowing only seven goals. Northeastern recorded three straight shut-outs at the end of the season, and in the last one clinched a spot in the CAA playoffs.
Okland was helped on defense by freshman Matt Sanford, who received All-Rookie honors after starting in every game of the season for the Huskies. Sanford was critical to Northeastern’s late run. The native of Princeton, N.J., constantly came up with big stops in one-on-one situations. Before his arrival at Northeastern, Sanford was first team All-State Prep as well as first team Mid-Atlantic Prep League while at the Hun School of Princeton.
Alexander Volk, a sophomore out of Nordrach, Germany, was named to the All-CAA third team a year after making the 2006 CAA All-Rookie team. Volk, who battled injuries early in the year, came back and made important contributions in the second half of the season. His only goal of the year clinched a 3-1 victory over UNC Wilmington, a win that started off a 6-2-1 stretch for the Huskies. Volk also tallied an assist later in the year to give him three points on the season. Although his numbers were down, the Huskies were clearly a different team with Volk on the field.
Northeastern finished the season with a record of 8-10-1, with a 6-4-1 mark in the CAA. Not only did the Huskies have the exact same CAA record in 2006, but they got there in similar fashion, playing strong to finish out the season. Okland, Volk and Sanford will return along with the rest of the Huskies next year to attempt a third straight CAA playoff appearance.
Nov. 15, 2007
Boston, MAGreg Kilkenny, Lars Okland, Alexander Volk and Matt Sanford of the men’s soccer team were honored by the Colonial Athletic Association on Thursday. Kilkenny and Okland were named to the All-CAA first team, while Volk received third team honors and Sanford made the All-Rookie squad.
