ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Catawba men's soccer team took home all four South Atlantic Conference (SAC) major awards, and eight student-athletes were named to All-Conference teams in the historic awards announcement.
SAC Offensive Player of the Year
Senior midfielder João Magalhães was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, native scored eight goals and delivered five assists, tying him atop the SAC leaderboard in points with 23. The midfielder's best performance came on October 3rd, when he scored two goals and dished out an assist in a 3-1 comeback victory over Wingate. Magalhães marks Catawba's second straight Offensive Player of the Year, following Máté Kenyeres earning the honor in 2025.
SAC Defensive Player of the Year
Guilherme Quintas took home the SAC Defensive Player of the Year honor. The freshman anchored Catawba's backline, which allowed just 10 goals on the season. Quintas led the unit with 1,302 minutes played and went the distance in 13 of 15 matches. He became Catawba's first SAC Defensive Player of the Year recipient in program history.
SAC Freshman of the Year
In addition to his first major award, Guilherme Quintas was named SAC Freshman of the Year. The São Paulo, Brazil, native was not only a force on the defensive end. The defender produced eight points by scoring three goals and delivering two assists offensively. Quintas becomes the second Catawba Indian to earn Freshman of the Year honors and the first since Daniele Proch in 2016.
SAC Coach of the Year
Head coach Alex Morais was voted South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year. In just his second season with the program, Morais led the Catawba Indians to a 12-1-2 regular season record, 8-1-1 in conference play and a perfect 6-0 in road matches. His group outscored opponents 39-10 and finished the regular season ranked third nationally by United Soccer Coaches, the highest ranking in program history. Morais becomes the second Catawba Men's Soccer Head Coach to earn the honor since Peter Broadley did so in 1996 and 1997.
First Team All-SAC
Magalhães, Alex Payton and Juan Camilo were named to the All-SAC First Team as midfielders, and Quintas and Luis Rodrigues earned the honor as defenders.
Payton was the conference's leading goal scorer with nine, including six game-winners. The Sayama, Japan, native also produced two assists and 19 shots on goal in 14 matches. Payton's best performance came on October 24th, when he scored twice in a 3-0 win over Carson-Newman.
Camilo also broke out in his sophomore campaign, scoring five goals while putting 12 shots on target across 11 games. The Bogotá, Colombia, native's season was highlighted by two goals in a 5-0 victory at Newberry and netting game-winners against Lee and Lenoir-Rhyne.
Rodrigues was a key component of the back line's success. The Bom Despacho, Brazil, appeared in 12 games and started 11, while the defense allowed the fewest shots and shots on goal in the conference. Rodrigues also made an impact on the offensive end by totaling six points on a goal and four assists.
Second Team All-SAC
Defender Leo Souza and goalkeeper Héctor Vara earned spots on the All-SAC Second Team.
Souza was another significant component of Catawba's defense. The Maringá, Brazil, native played 1,219 minutes, including nine full 90-minute games. The senior played a role in the blue and white's eight shutout efforts, with his best performance coming on September 19th when he helped shut out Emory & Henry as Catawba played down a man for over half the match.
Vara played every minute of the season in goal for the Catawba Indians, delivering eight clean sheets. The Móstoles, Spain native broke the program's record for most consecutive shutouts when he recorded six straight from September 5th to September 27th. The sophomore finished the regular season with 35 saves, a .773 save percentage, allowing just 0.67 goals per game. Vara's best performance came on October 24th when he saved five shots in a 3-0 shutout victory over Carson-Newman.
Third Team All-SAC
Carlos Zapata was named to the All-SAC Third Team as a midfielder. The Bogotá, Colombia, native started 13 games and was critical to Catawba's defensive success. The junior totaled 1,137 minutes, going the distance 10 times. Zapata's impact led the Catawba Indians to become among the nation's leaders in goal differential. His best performance came on October 24th when he delivered an assist and helped shut out Carson-Newman at Frock Field.
History Made
Catawba's eight All-South Atlantic Conference selections set a new program record, surpassing the marks of six set in 1989 and 1997. It was also the first year the Catawba Indians won multiple major awards, sweeping all four honors.
