Men's Soccer 11/12/2026 12:00:00 AM

Rafferty, Shire Highlight All-United East Honors

Latham, N.Y. – Penn State Abington junior Frankie Rafferty and sophomore Aramis Shire highlighted the list of All-Conference and Major Award winners when the United East Conference (UEC) announced this year's awards on Thursday. Rafferty was named the 2026 Men's Soccer Player of the Year, while Shire was voted the Defensive Player of the Year. Both were also selected to the All-United East first team. In addition, head coach Pat Morris and his staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year by their peers.

Three other players joined Rafferty and Shire on the All-United East first team, including senior Hugh Nungessor, junior Amerr Yagoub and freshman Hector Ortiz. The Nittany Lions also featured three players on the All-United East second team with senior Nick Lachawiec, sophomore Shawn Dixon and freshman Shane Lachawiec. The eight all-conference selections are the most in program history since joining the United East (formerly NEAC).

Rafferty is the fourth player in program history to earn Player of the Year accolades joining Jose Palomeque (2018), Hernando Villamil (2019) and Eljo Agolli (2023). He's also earning All-United East first team honors for the second straight season.

This season, Rafferty started all 21 games and recorded a career-high 13 goals to go along with four assists for a career-best 30 points. His 30 points are currently fourth most in program history in a single season. Rafferty took conference play by storm scoring seven goals and dishing out two assists for 16 points leading Abington to an 8-0-0 mark versus United East competition. Rafferty also has three multi-goal games and three game-winning goals this season.

In 59 career games, Rafferty has 17 goals and 11 assists for 45 points.

Shire is the third Abington player to be named the Defensive Player of the Year. Andrew Costa earned the honors in 2017 and most recently Matt Sheldon in 2023. Shire is also earning All-United East first team honors for the second straight season.

Shire was a key component to one of the top defenses in the United East this season. The Abington defense allowed 21 goals in 21 games this season, including just three against United East opponents. Five of the team's eight conference victories were shutouts. Shire also a force offensively as he set career-highs in goals (7), assists (6) and points (20).

In 39 career games, Shire has totaled 12 goals and eight assists for 32 points.

Nungessor is now a four-time All-United East selection becoming just the third player in program history to earn all-conference honors in all four seasons. Nungessor was selected to the All-United East second team in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and is earning first team recognition for the first time. Former standouts Andre Lynahping (2011-14) and Alex Martins (2011-14) earned All-NEAC honors all four years.

Nungessor had another stellar season under his belt as he tied his career-highs in goals (7) and assists (4) to total a new career-high 18 points. In 80 career games, Nungessor has 20 goals and 10 assists for 50 points. His 50 career points are ninth most in program history and he is tied for eighth for most goals scored with 20. Nungessor is also tied for seventh all-time in total assists.

Yagoub is earning All-United East honors for the first time in his career with first team recognition. He has been instrumental in the Abington offense this season as he has totaled a single season record 15 assists this year in 21 games played, including 20 starts. Yagoub leads the United East in assists and is tied for second most in Division III. Yagoub recorded five multi-assist games, including three helpers in the team's shutout victory against Penn State Brandywine that tied the program's single game record. Yagoub has at least one assist in his last six games and has totaled 10 in that span.

In 59 career games, Yagoub has five goals and 16 assists for 26 total points. His 16 career assists are fourth most in program history.

Ortiz is earning All-United East first team honors as the top goalkeeper in the conference. He has been rock-solid all season long for the Nittany Lions in his rookie campaign. In 16 starts, Ortiz has allowed just eight goals, including three against conference opponents. He's the only goalkeeper in the United East that owns a goals against average of under 1.00 at 0.55 which ranks eighth lowest among the D-III leaders. In addition, Ortiz ranks third in the nation with a .889 save percentage.

Ortiz is currently 11-1-3 in net for the Nittany Lions and has totaled six shutouts on the year.

Nick Lachawiec is earning All-United East honors for the first time in his career with second team accolades. After missing the 2025 season due to injury, Lachawiec came back and started 20 games in the Abington midfield-defense having a vital role in the team's success. Lachawiec scored his first two career goals in back-to-back games in wins over Gwynedd Mercy University and Keystone College. He also scored the insurance goal in the 70^th minuet in the United East championship victory over Penn State Harrisburg.

Dixon is earning All-United East honors for the second time in his career with second team recognition. He was named to the third team last year in his rookie season. Dixon, the United East Championships Most Valuable Player, had another stellar season in the Abington backfield. He was a key component to the success that saw the Nittany Lions allow just 21 goals all year. The team ranks eighth nationally in goal differential having scored 61 goals, while only surrendering 21.

Shane Lachawiec appeared in all 21 games and made 17 starts in his rookie season as he earned All-United East second team honors. Lachawiec was a force in the Abington midfield this season as he totaled three goals and three assists for nine points. Two of his three goals turned out to be game-winning scores in big games for the Nittany Lions. He scored the game-winner in the 2-1 victory over St. Mary's College (Md.) in the regular season and came through with what turned out to be the game-winning score in the United East Championship game against Harrisburg.

Morris is receiving Coach of the Year honors for the second time in his Abington career. He was previously named Coach of the Year by his peers in 2023. Morris and the Abington coaching staff guided the Nittany Lions to a perfect 8-0-0 record in conference play to earn the top-seed in the United East tournament. Abington is 26-1-3 in the United East in the last four seasons.

Abington went on to win the 2026 title after outscoring its opponents 8-1 in the postseason. As a result, the Nittany Lions earned the conference's automatic qualifying bid into the NCAA Tournament. It marks the program's third NCAA bid in program history and the first since 2019.

Abington (13-4-4, 8-0-0 UEC) will face nationally ranked No. 1 Tufts University in the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Saturday, Nov. 14. Game time is set for 11 a.m. The Nittany Lions will enter the NCAA tournament on a six-game winning streak and an unbeaten streak of 16 straight that includes a 13-0-3 record. The team's last setback was a 1-0 defeat at nationally ranked Rowan University on Sept. 12.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Shawn Dixon: D; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#4 Nick Lachawiec: M/D; 6' 3"; Senior

#2 Hugh Nungessor: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#22 Frankie Rafferty: F; 6' 0"; Junior

#33 Aramis Shire: D; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#14 Shane Lachawiec: M; 5' 9"; Freshman

#21 Amerr Yagoub: MF; 5' 8"; Junior

#0 Hector Ortiz: GK; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Shawn Dixon
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: D

#4 Nick Lachawiec
: 6' 3"; Senior
: M/D

#2 Hugh Nungessor
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#22 Frankie Rafferty
: 6' 0"; Junior
: F

#33 Aramis Shire
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: D

#14 Shane Lachawiec
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: M

#21 Amerr Yagoub
: 5' 8"; Junior
: MF

#0 Hector Ortiz
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: GK