KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wheaton College men's soccer players Ryan Bell (Berwyn, Pa.) and Robert Lloyd (Lexington, Mass.) were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region II First Team, while Ethan Alfano (East Greenwich, R.I.) was named to the Third Team, it was announced today by the United Soccer Coaches.
The trio of All-Region honorees marks the third straight year that three Lyons have been chosen to mark the first time since 2014, 2015 and 2016 that Wheaton has boasted three or more All-Region selections in three consecutive years. The pair of first team selections is the most for the Lyons since 2014 when Travis Blair and Luke Finkelstein were chosen.
The honor for Lloyd makes him the first repeat All-Region performer for Wheaton since Amara Sesay in 2016 and 2017. Lloyd earns a First Team spot to add to an offseason award parade that has seen him lauded with a number of postseason accolades. The senior was named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year in addition to being tabbed a NEWMAC First Team honoree. The senior's impact for the Lyons goes well beyond statistical numbers compiled on the field. The Tri-Captain was a tremendous communicator on the field and gave Wheaton another coach with regard to how he organizes play around him. Lloyd was as good as anyone in the region with being able to possess the ball and switch the point of attack and find teammates. His leadership qualities gained him instant respect among his fellow Lyons and the opposition, while his ability to dominate games with his physical presence earned him admiration throughout the conference. The Lexington High School product started all 19 matches and netted three goals, which were all crucial to the team's success. The midfielder tallied the game-winning strike in a 1-0 win over Springfield College on October 21 during the regular season and notched game-tying markers in a 1-1 tie at Saint Joseph's College (Maine) and a 1-1 draw with No. 16 Bowdoin College on September 30.
For his career, the Political Science and Philosophy major has started 49 of 56 matches that he's appeared in, while netting eight goals and handing out four assists to give him 20 points. Lloyd recorded a game-winning marker in each of his three seasons in Norton.
In addition to being named All-Region, Bell was also named Second Team All-NEWMAC as one of just four defenders to earn All-League status. The senior Tri-Captain displayed incredible control and composure on the ball and was a key part of igniting the attack from the backfield. The Conestoga High School graduate started all 19 contests for the Lyons and owned an extremely high soccer IQ in terms of reading and anticipating play. The Business and Management major had a natural instinct to understand and assess dangerous situations, while coming up with big plays in key moments, whether it be a crucial slide tackle or a lead pass from the back. His only assist led to an important marker late in the Lyons' 3-2 victory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology on October 27 in Cambridge, Mass.
Since his first day on campus, the Pennsylvania native has been an integral piece in Wheaton's success, starting all 46 matches he's been healthy for, while collecting three points on a goal and an assist. His only career tally was the game-winning score in a victory at Endicott College on September 5, which led to him being named the NEWMAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Alfano started 17 of 18 matches for the Lyons and helped lock down a defensive front that saw the Lyons rank 11th in the nation in goals against average with a 0.63 mark. The junior Tri-Captain was one of the most talented backs in the league to go with great vision on the field. His uncanny ability to make great decisions and turn something out of nothing on the field, made him an invaluable contributor to Wheaton's success. The East Greenwich High School product established himself into an inescapable defender in one on one situations. Along with Bell, Alfano helped dictate the attack from the backfield and seamlessly transitioned from defense to offense.
In three seasons with the Lyons, the Marketing and Psychology major has started 45 matches in 55 career contests, while netting a goal and adding five assists. His only career marker was the game-winner at Clark University on October 29, 2022.
Wheaton finished the season ranked third in the NCAA Region II rankings after posting an 8-5-6 overall record, including 5-1-2 in conference action. The Lyons advanced to the NEWMAC Championship Tournament Semifinals, before bowing to second-seeded Babson College, 1-0, on November 4.
