Martinez Named HCAC Newcomer of the Year

Anderson University men's soccer standout Josh Martinez has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Newcomer of the Year, which was announced by the conference on Tuesday.

Four Ravens received all-HCAC honors. Stephen Fite and Drew Vaughn each garnered first-team all-HCAC honors. Usman Kamara earned second-team all-conference recognition while Jordan Bossman collected all-HCAC Honorable Mention.

Josh Martinez (Fr., Midfielder, Carmel, Ind./Carmel)

• HCAC Newcomer of the Year
• Conference-Only Stats – 1 Goal, 2 Points
• Overall Stats – 2 Goals, 1 Assist, 5 Points, 19 Steals, 11 Intercepts
• Coach Scott Fridley's Comments – I am excited for Josh.  He will be a big piece of this team in the next three years and it shows the HCAC coaches acknowledge him being a solid performer on our team and in the HCAC.  Josh is talented and exciting to watch.

Drew Vaughn (Jr., Defender, Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek)

• All-Conference Awards: First Team (2022, Fall 2021), Honorable Mention (Spring 2021)
• Earned HCAC Defensive Player of the Week this season
• Conference-Only Stats – 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 3 Points
• Overall Stats – 3 Goals, 1 Assist, 7 Points, 52 Intercepts (Leads Team), 3 Defensive Saves (Leads Team), 23 Steals, 1,612 Minutes (Leads Team)
• Coach Scott Fridley's Comments – As Drew has become one of the top players in the conference and continues to grow with this team, I am thrilled that the HCAC coaches continue to believe in his talents and added him to the first team for the second straight year. He is a quality young man and someone that a team can be built on.  I look forward to seeing where he takes this team with his ability and leadership.  Drew is hardly ever outworked.

Stephen Fite (Jr., Midfielder/Forward, Cincinnati, Ohio/Homeschool)

• All-Conference Awards: First Team (2022)
• Conference-Only Stats – 2 Goals, 2 Assists (T-9 in HCAC), 6 Points
• Overall Stats – 5 Goals, 4 Assists (T-7 in HCAC), 14 Points, 28 Steals (Shares Team Lead), 33 Intercepts
• Coach Scott Fridley's Comments – I am excited that the HCAC coaches appreciate Stephen's talent and work ethic.  Stephen is an extremely hardworking player that always strives to be better than he was the day before.  He plays wherever we need him.  He is a quality young man and can take this team far.  Stephen is also an accomplished musician that continues to excel in the classroom.

Usman Kamara (So., Forward, Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central)

• All-Conference Awards: Second Team (2022, Fall 2021)
• Earned HCAC Offensive Player of the Week this season
• Conference-Only Stats – 3 Goals (T-8 in HCAC), 1 Assist, 7 Points
• Overall Stats – 7 Goals (T-8 in HCAC), 1 Assist, 15 Points, 28 Steals (Shares Team Lead), 18 Intercepts
• Coach Scott Fridley's Comments – As Usman continues to grow as a player, his dominant presence on the field gets even stronger.  His physical attributes tied to his passion for the game make him dangerous.   I am so proud of his continued growth in learning to play within our system. I am also very proud of his continued excellence in the classroom. He is a quality young man always trying to be better.

Jordan Bossman (So., Midfielder, Gahanna, Ohio/Westerville North)

• All-Conference Awards: Second Team (Fall 2021), Honorable Mention (2022)
• Conference-Only Stats – 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 3 Points
• Overall Stats – 1 Goal, 3 Assists, 5 Points, 24 Intercepts, 18 Steals
• Coach Scott Fridley's Comments – Jordan has worked hard to fight through some health issues that would slow most people down, but not Jordan. After he missed 4 matches, he missed very little time after and continues to be a highly-rated player in our conference. I look forward to seeing Jordan become an upperclassman and see where he can take us.  He is a wonderful young man that takes his academics seriously.