WESTWOOD, Mass. – Wheaton College (Mass.) men's soccer player Robert Lloyd (Lexington, Mass.) was named the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Athlete of the Year, it was announced today by the league.
In addition Lloyd was also selected to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team.
The honor marks 11th time and the second straight year that a Lyon has earned the Athlete of the Year award after Alasdair Ferrier (Concord, N.H.) was named the Co-Athlete of the Year in 2022. It's the first time since the 2004 and 2005 campaigns that a Wheaton player has earned the Athlete of the Year award in consecutive seasons when James Greenslit was chosen in back-to-back years.
Lloyd repeats as a First Team All-Conference selection as well to become the first Lyon to make that claim since Amara Sesay earned First Team status following the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The senior's impact goes well beyond statistical numbers compiled on the field. The Tri-Captain is a tremendous communicator on the field and gives Wheaton another coach with regard to how he organizes play around him. Lloyd is 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.
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.
