Story Courtesy SFU Athletic - Luca Bellisomo (Johannesburg, South Africa) has been named an NAIA Third Team All-American, while teammate Nathan Quan (Burnaby, B.C.) has been chosen as an NAIA Honourable Mention All-American.
Nathan Quan (Burnaby, B.C.) and Luca Bellisomo (Johannesburg, South Africa) have been selected to the 2006 NAIA Region I All-Star team, released on Thursday morning.
Bellisomo, a junior defender who will be one of the key seniors for Elligott in 2007, started in all 15 of the Clan’s games, and was instrumental on a Clan defence that averaged only 1.07 goals against during the season. On a Clan squad that featured 16 first or second year student-athletes, Bellisomo also provided crucial leadership to an inexperienced backline.
"Luca had an outstanding season anchoring our backline; he is a cultured and gifted player with and excellent ability to read the play,” says Elligott. “This season his role on the team grew enormously and he is now clearly one of the strongest leaders in our program. Although already an outstanding player, Luca just continues to improve every year and is the type of character that will never be satisfied with where he is at and will always be pushing to get better.”
Quan, a senior in his second season with SFU after transferring from Oregon State, was a stalwart in the midfield for the Clan, starting all 15 games and finishing second on the team in assists with three. Quan was the set-up man on two game winning goals, assisting Reece Miles (Maple Ridge, B.C.) in the 72nd minute of a 2-1 victory over Seattle Pacific on Oct. 16, and setting up Miles again in the 107th minute of a thrilling 1-0 overtime win against Western Washington on Oct. 2.
"Game in and game out, Nathan was among our top players this season” says SFU head coach Dave Elligott. “He is very professional in his approach and his leadership and desire to win set a terrific example for the many younger players in our program this year. Nathan's work rate and ability to keep us in possession and create opportunities from midfield were instrumental to our team. He had a very, very good season and will leave a huge hole for us to fill now that his eligibility has expired.”
Columbus-Clan’s player/coach CARMINE D’ONOFRIO for his 2-goal performance in his team’s 2-0 victory over Croatia SC in the Province Cup semi-finals. As usual, D’Onofrio came off the bench to inspire his team and he accomplished his goal with an impeccable demonstration of skill, determination, and leadership.
Columbus-Clan’s young goalkeeper THOMAS LINDLEY for his superlative performance in his team’s penalty kick victory over ICSF Inter in the Imperial Cup final. Lindley came on as a substitute midway through the second half of regulation time when Luca Dalla Pace was injured in a collision with teammate Jonathan Poli. Lindley then proceeded to make an incredible save on a long-range shot by Bevan Footman to preserve the tie. Subsequently, Lindley saved three well-taken penalty kicks to lead his team to its second consecutive Imperial Cup victory. 
