Warhawk trio earns All-American honors from NSCAA | People

Auburn Montgomery junior goalkeeper Vignir Johannesson earned First-Team All-America honors, while senior defender Matias Aristegui and freshman forward Agust Arnarson garnered second-team honors, when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced its NSCAA/Continental Tire All-America Teams for the NAIA.

Johannesson finished the 2012 campaign with a 16-4-2 record, a 1.06 goals-against average and 92 saves. He also had 10 shutouts, which was the second-most in AUM history for a single season. He was selected the Southern States Athletic Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week on three occasions and was a first-team All-SSAC selection following the regular season.

An anchor on the Warhawks’ defense, Aristegui started all 22 games he appeared in. The North Miami, Fla., native provided stability in the back, as AUM allowed only 25 goals in 24 games this season. The Warhawks also posted 11 shutouts, the fourth most in the NAIA. Aristegui also contributed offensively, with two goals and four assists. He had a season-high three points against Truett-McConnell on Sept. 21, and he recorded three assists in the first two games of the NAIA National Tournament.

Arnarson was one of only three Warhawks to appear in all 24 games. He finished with 16 goals and six assists, leading AUM in goals, points (38) and game-winning goals (6). On Nov. 5, he was named SSAC Offensive Player of the Week. Arnarson recorded a pair of hat tricks, first against Lee (Oct. 11) and Florida Memorial (Nov. 17). The Kopavogur, Iceland, native also had two goals and an assist against Spring Hill on Nov. 3, and he scored the game-winner against Jamestown in the Second Round of the NAIA Tournament.

Johannesson is the first AUM goalkeeper to be named First-Team All-American since Nenad Cudic in 2006. Aristegui is the first Warhawk defender recognized by the NAIA since Kari Arsaelsson in 2007.

The Warhawks, which finished fifth in the postseason NAIA Coaches’ Poll, recorded an 18-4-2 record, their most wins since the 2005 team went 23-2. AUM's season ended in the NAIA Quarterfinals with a 1-0 loss to MidAmerican Nazarene.

Source:  AUM Sports Information Director