University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Peay, Durall earn Big South Awards; Behan, Musial named All-Freshman
04.13.2021 | Men's Soccer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced its men's soccer postseason honors and awards on Tuesday afternoon, with UNC Asheville's Miles Peay earning First Team All-Conference honors while Conor Behan and Leon Musial were named to the All-Freshman Team. Additionally, forward Taylor Durall was named the 2020-21 Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Asheville men's soccer player to do so and the first since 2002.
Despite scoring just one goal, Peay strung together one of the better offensive seasons in Bulldog history, dishing out a league-high seven assists in just eight total games. Peay's average of 0.88 assists per game ranks third in the NCAA, and his seven assists currently ranks fifth in all of Division I in spite of the COVID-shortened season. The junior from Raleigh, N.C., opened up the season with an assist in a 2-1 win over Longwood, registering an assist in each of the next four games. In Asheville's 2-1 win over Winthrop, Peay set up the game-tying goal which ultimately forced overtime. Peay, who totaled nine shots with five on frame this season, scored a goal at nationally-ranked High Point. The winger and forward capped off his regular season with a two-assist performance against Gardner-Webb, which helped lift Asheville to its first Big South Semifinal appearance since 2008.
"We could not be more thrilled for Miles," said head coach Mick Giordano of Peay. "His dedication and work rate over the last 10 months has been unrelenting. His attacking production stands for itself with a goal and seven assists, but what may often be overlooked is his determination to defend and elevate our team's energy. The composure and football IQ he has brought to the pitch is now being rewarded with this fantastic individual achievement."
Serving as team captain, Durall started all seven games that he appeared in this season for Asheville, leading the team in shots and shots on goal, tying with teammate Colin Daughtry for a team-best three goals scored. Durall's goal against Winthrop would force overtime and ultimately lead to a 2-1 win, helping the Bulldogs to reach their first Big South Championship Tournament appearance since 2016. A native of Plover, Wisconsin, Durall is a biology major with a minor in neuroscience. In addition to his undergraduate research, Durall works with the "Be the Match" program, which is an organization that recruits people to join the National Bone Marrow Registry.
"We could not imagine anyone else more deserving to be named Scholar-Athlete of the Year," Giordano said of Durall. "Taylor is a grinder both on and off the field. His determination to be successful in life is infectious to our staff and the group. This accomplishment is the first of many for him. We are grateful to have a leader that is this wonderful on the field and even more impactful off it."
Behan and Musial showed their value right from the start this season, serving as key players who helped Asheville advance to the postseason. A native of Dublin, Ireland, Behan appeared in seven games and started five, scoring a pair of goals while handing out an assist. In his first collegiate game, Behan scored the game-tying goal, ultimately leading to a 2-1 victory. Totaling 10 shots and four on frame, Behan registered his second goal against USC Upstate and dished out an assist at Presbyterian.
"The staff is delighted to have Leon and Conor recognized for their brilliant performances this season," said Giordano. "They have given so much of themselves with one thing on their minds: find ways to make our team successful. Conor has always found a way to show up for our team regardless of what was being asked of him from the staff. His mentality and work rate are top-notch."
Musial was an ironman all season, playing every single minute in the net for the Bulldogs. The Ingolstadt, Germany, native began his career 2-0 with a trio of big saves. From there, the rookie kept improving, totaling five-plus saves in the next three games. Musial would cap off his season with a brilliant eight-save, shutout performance in a 4-0 win over Gardner-Webb, propelling the Bulldogs to the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Big South Championship. In addition to leading the Big South in total saves (33) and saves per game, Musial's per game average of 4.12 ranks 33rd in all of Division I.
"Leon is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the conference," Giordano said. "His consistency and character is what we value most in him. We are proud of both Conor and Leon, but also excited to have the wonderful opportunity to work with them over the next few years."
2020-21 Big South Conference Spring Men's Soccer Award Winners
First-Team All-Conference
F: MD Myers, Soph., High Point
F: Pol Monells, Sr., USC Upstate
F: Jalen James, R-Soph., Campbell
MF: Sebastian Chalbaud, Jr., High Point
MF: Sami Amal, Fr., Campbell
MF: Pascal Corvino, Soph., USC Upstate
MF: Miles Peay, Jr., UNC Asheville
D: Franck Momo, Jr., Campbell
D: Finn McRobb, Fr., High Point
D: Moses Mensah, Soph., Campbell
D: Luca Ziegler, Sr., Presbyterian College
GK: Holden Trent, R-Soph., High Point
AL: Diego Koninicks, Soph., D, Campbell
Second-Team All-Conference
F: Abel Gebrekiros, Sr., Gardner-Webb
F: Alex Abril, Jr., High Point
F: Jeremy Montero, Fr., USC Upstate
MF: Humberto Chavez, Sr., Campbell
MF: George Bediko, Sr., Campbell
MF: Matt Lock, Jr., Campbell
MF: Mason Marcey, Sr., High Point
D: Octavio Ocampo, Soph., Radford
D: Cesar Sancho, R-Soph., Presbyterian College
D: Alessandro Sobacchi, Jr., High Point
D: Hayden Anderson, Soph., USC Upstate
GK: Sam Lechuga, Sr., Campbell
AL: Sam Catherall, Jr., D, Gardner-Webb
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Josh Dubost, Jr., D, High Point
Bassafi Dotte, Soph., D, Campbell
Paul Bobai, Jr., MF, USC Upstate
Nokkvi Nokkvason, Fr., D, Presbyterian College
Lalas Ayertey, Jr., MF, High Point
All-Freshman Team
Sami Amal, MF, Campbell
Finn McRobb, D, High Point
Jeremy Montero, F, USC Upstate
Nokkvi Nokkvason, D, Presbyterian College
Davis Biggerstaff, MF, High Point
Tyler Young, F, Campbell
Conor Behan, MF, UNC Asheville
Caco Fernandez, MF, High Point
Leon Musial, GK, UNC Asheville
Sebastian Reventlow, MF, Gardner-Webb
Elias Ehlin, D, USC Upstate
All-Academic Team
Alex Egeonu, F, Sr., Campbell
Cole Sanfilippo, D, Sr., Gardner-Webb
MD Myers, F, Soph., High Point
Jonas Kalchner, D, Jr., Longwood
Luca Ziegler, S, Sr., Presbyterian College
Dondre' Robinson, F, Sr., Radford
Taylor Durall, F, R-Jr., UNC Asheville
Mario Arrocha, F, R-Soph., USC Upstate
George Orfanidis, D, Sr., Winthrop
Offensive Player of the Year
MD Myers, F, Soph., High Point
Defensive Player of the Year
Franck Momo, D, Jr., Campbell
Freshman of the Year
Sami Amal, MF, Campbell
Coach of the Year
Scott Halkett, USC Upstate
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Taylor Durall, F, R-Jr., UNC Asheville
