Gophers Fill Four Spots on 2014 All-Landmark Team

TOWSON, Md. — After going two years without having even one player earn all-conference honors, Goucher landed four players on the 2014 All-Landmark Conference Men's Soccer Team, which was released to the public this afternoon.

In a vote by the conference's nine head coaches, senior Brandon Weiner (Derwood, Md./Col. Zadok A. Magruder) was placed on the All-Landmark first team as a defender, while seniors Nate Margolis (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) and Lashaw Salta (Allen, Texas/Plano East) and sophomore Tate Becker (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch) were awarded spots on the second team.

In addition, for leading the Gophers to an 8-6-3 record and their first ever appearance in the conference's postseason tournament, head coach Bryan Laut and his assistants were selected Coaching Staff of the Year. Sean Peckham, Ryan Martin and Justin Holbrook were all members of Laut's staff in 2014.

The last time Goucher produced the Coach or Coaching Staff of the Year in the sport of men's soccer was in 2003 when Gary Dunda was recognized as the top coach in the Capital Athletic Conference.

"First of all, our program is extremely lucky to have Sean, Ryan and Justin," Laut said. "What we have accomplished would not have been possible without the effort and sacrifice they put in. At the same time, our staff fully realizes this award is not possible without our players. We were fortunate to have 28 great guys who believed in and sacrificed for each other.  They are the reason we reached new heights this year and the reason we were recognized by the league."

Weiner, who started 16 games and supplied the Gophers with three goals and a pair of assists, was also an All-Landmark selection as a freshman. He was a second-team defender in 2011.

"Brandon had an amazing year for us," according to Laut. "He was easily one of the best players in the conference. As always he was great in the back, but also provided a huge boost in the attack and was such a clutch performer, especially with the big goal against Susquehanna which secured our first ever Landmark playoff appearance."

Margolis, who was in the starting line-up for the Gophers in all 17 games this season, gained his spot on the all-conference team as a forward after a three-goal, one-assist performance. Only two players in the history of Goucher's men's soccer program had more career assists than the 19 Margolis compiled during his four years.

Salta and Becker were both second-team midfielders. Salta was credited with three goals and three assists for a team-high total of nine points in 2014; Becker, who missed Goucher's playoff game against Catholic because of an injury, finished with two goals and an assist.

"Nate has been our most consistent attacking threat for the past four years and stepped up this year when we needed it the most," Laut commented. "He scored two huge goals down the stretch for us and constantly created problems which other guys on our team were able to exploit.