ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Ryan Foley, a graduate forward on the Nazareth men's soccer team, and James Wheeler, a senior midfielder, have been named to the Empire 8 Conference first team as the all-conference teams were revealed Nov. 12. The teams were chosen through voting by the league's head coaches. In addition to Foley and Wheeler, senior defender Brian Lang was an honorable mention pick. Junior Brendan Miles was Nazareth's representative as E8 Sportsman of the Year.

Foley, of Waterford, Ireland, returned to the Golden Flyers as a graduate student after red-shirting his senior year. A staple feature in the Flyers' attack over the past three seasons, Foley contributed eight goals and three assists to lead the team with 19 points for the season. With the three assists, Foley broke the all time career assists record, overtaking teammate James Wheeler to rank first with 22. In addition to this, Foley ranks second for career goals with 29, and second in career scoring with 80 points. Foley was a first team all conference pick in 2011, and named Rookie of the Year in 2010.

Wheeler, of Macclesfield, England, returned to the Golden Flyers after missing the entire 2013 season due to a knee injury. An ever present fixture in the Golden Flyers' midfield in previous seasons, Wheeler featured in 12 games in 2014, scoring two goals and adding one assist on the season. His 21 career assists rank him second all time behind teammate Ryan Foley. In addition to this, Wheeler has 19 career goals to rank him seventh on all time career scoring with 59 points. Wheeler was an all conference first team selection in 2011 and 2012.

Lang, of Rochester, N.Y., has started every game for the Golden Flyer's over the past two seasons. He has one goal and one assist for his career.

Every year one member of each team is selected as that schools representative for E8 Sportsman of the Year. The Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athletes experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. As Nazareth's representative, Brendan Miles has consisntely exhibited those critical characteristics as an outstanding sportsman. Miles, of Victor, N.Y., started all 17 games for the Golden Flyers, contributing two goals and three assists to rank third on the team in scoring with seven points.

Empire 8 2014 Men's Soccer All-Conference Awards

Player of the Year: Harrison Kane, Stevens Institute of Technology
Rookie of the Year: Bita Gazashvill, Utica College
Doug May Coach of the Year: Matt Smith, Alfred University

FIRST TEAM

SECOND TEAM
Forwards                                 Yr.           School
Landon Sheaffer                         So.          Houghton College
Chris Renna                              So.           Stevens Institute of Technology
Bita Gazashvill                           Fr.           Utica College

Midfielders
Richard Lander                          So.           Alfred University
Brandon Glass                          Sr.            Ithaca College
Kevin Calloway                          Sr.            Stevens Institute of Technology
Jay Mikula                                So.           Stevens Institute of Technology

Defenders
Joseph Dobbins                         Jr.            Ithaca College
Patrick Boylan                          Fr.            Stevens Institute of Technology
Quinn Connor                           Sr.            Stevens Institute of Technology

GoalKeeper
Jacob Dunnett                          So.            Houghton College
Jordan Gentile                          Sr.             Ithaca College

HONORABLE MENTION
Forwards                                 Yr.             School
Donte Donegal                         Fr.             Elmira College
Kevin Miranda                          Sr.             Houghton College
Casey Williamson                    Sr.             Ithaca College
Zach Hammond                        Sr.             St. John Fisher College

Midfielders
Graeme Corrigan                     So.             Alfred University
Cobi Byrne                             So.              Ithaca College
Phillip Brogan                         Sr.               St. John Fisher College
Patrick Masur                         So.              Stevens Institute of Technology

Defenders
Mitch Beattie                         So.               Houghton College
Tyler Inch                               Jr.                Houghton College
Carlos Peregrina                     Fr.               Houghton College
Jordan Filipowich                    Jr.                Ithaca College
Brian Lang                           Sr.               Nazareth College
Connor Reagan                      Fr.                Utica College

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Name                                    Yr.                School
Ivan Capitan-Carro                  Sr.                Alfred Unitversity
Austin Mansell                       Jr.                Elmira College
Cory Brautigam                      Sr.               Houghton College
AJ Wolfanger                         Sr.               Ithaca College
Brendan Miles                      Jr.               Nazareth College
Zach Hammond                      Sr.              St. John Fisher
Kevin Calloway                       Sr.              Stevens Institute of Technology
Anthony Fotino                       Sr.              Utica College