Three Red Devils Receive All-SLIAC Honors

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After making program history this season, three players from the Eureka men's soccer team received All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors.

Eureka's Khalil Alleyne (Diego Martin, Trinidad/Fatima College/Lincoln) was selected to All-SLIAC Second Team, and Jake Edmondson (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) and Isaac Noriega (Chicago, Ill./Muchin College Prep/Lincoln) were named to the All-SLIAC Third Team, the SLIAC announced Wednesday.

This is Eureka's first time earning All-SLIAC honors since James Bowen received All-SLIAC Third Team honors in 2018, and the first time this team has had three honorees since 2015 when Bowen, Brady Thomas and Daniel Johnson all selected Third Team All-SLIAC.

Alleyne, a sophomore striker, is only the third EC player to be selected Second Team All-SLIAC, following Cody Halstead (2010) and Brian O'Malley (2009).

This fall, led the Red Devils with nine goals and 20 points, finishing second and third in the SLIAC in those categories, respectively. A Lincoln transfer, he produced a goal in each of his first three matches in maroon and gold, had two multi-goal performances and posted six goals in SLIAC play.

He contributed two of Eureka's three goals in the team's momentous 3-2 win over Blackburn to open SLIAC play and netted two more at home against Greenville. He delivered the match-winner and lone goal in Eureka's second-ever win against Spalding, and has also had an assist to go with a goal in a 10-1 non-conference win at Emmaus and an assist in the Red Devils' 1-1 draw at Blackburn.

With his quick pace on-and-off the ball and indefatigable stamina, Alleyne was a terror for opposing teams all season. He was always a threat to make a breakaway toward the goal, and when needed, he could drop back and use his motor to apply pressure to the midfield. He finished the season with a league-high 31 shots on goal.

Edmondson, a returning sophomore, was one of the Red Devils' most consistent players in the midfield. He provided a steady presence, poise on the ball and the ability to step up in big moments. Edmondson finished the season with four goals and one assist. Two of the four were late match-winners against SLIAC opponents at McKinzie Field.

With the match tied at 2-2 in the 84th minute of Eureka's SLIAC opener against Blackburn, Edmonson settled a flick from a teammate and found just enough space between defenders to send it past the keeper on the left side. In a critical late-season match against Fontbonne, Edmondson helped keep the team's postseason hopes alive by putting away the deciding goal in the 86th minute.

Noriega, a junior Lincoln transfer, played a variety of roles for the Red Devils this season. He started out the season as a key offensive player, but eventually found a home at center back in the team's back line. Noriega finished his first season as a Red Devil with 16 points, distributing a team-high six assists and putting away five goals. He recorded the second-most assists in the league and was fifth in points.

Noriega tallied most of his offensive production in Eureka's 10-1 early-season win at Emmaus, where he scored four goals and had four assists. But, over the course of the season, he became most valuable to the Red Devils as a defensive anchor, free kick taker and tone-setter in the back line, making many match-saving plays in Eureka's defensive third down the stretch.

All three of EC's All-SLIAC honorees were captains this season. Edmondson was also the Red Devils' representative on the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.