When the Lee men's soccer team needed a big play this season Jared McWhorter was right there in the middle to make it happen. The junior midfielder was rewarded for his efforts by being named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year the league office announced on Tuesday.
McWhorter led the Flames with seven goals, 16 points, 48 shots and 24 shots on goal. The Woodstock, Ga. native hit the game-winner on three occasions for the 9-4-4 Flames.
Senior goalkeeper Daniel Hrenko and sophomore defender Jonah Bryan landed on the GSC All-Conference Second Team.
Hrenko, the veteran net-minder from Tampa, Fla., finished the regular season second in the GSC with seven shutouts while posting 0.87 goals against average, allowing just 15 goals in 1546:37 minutes of work.
Bryan anchored a stout backline for the Lee men's soccer team. Bryan a 6-foot-2, 185 pounder from Chattanooga, had one goal and 14 shots, playing a key role in set pieces offensively for the Flames while locking down the opposing team's striker.
"I am a big believer that individual awards in soccer are directly linked to team achievement in both directions. You can't have a great season as a team without having difference makers on the field; and likewise individuals are given the platform to impact when the team is playing well and competing hard for one another," said third-year Lee head coach Derek Potteiger.
"So I am thrilled for these three guys to receive the recognition that has been given to them – and they certainly deserve it, but it is also an acknowledgement to the team and what we have collectively been able to do up to this point," added Potteiger.
The Flames will enter the GSC Tournament Tuesday afternoon as the No. 4 seed and will host Christian Brothers at 5:30 p.m. With a win Lee would punch its ticket to the GSC Semifinals for the second straight season on Friday in Pensacola, Fla.
"I think the big question now for these guys and our team is can we produce when it really matters. Big games are decided by just a few moments and of course a big game is sitting in front of us tonight and we will need some players to step up and capture a moment for us," concluded Potteiger.
West Florida's Jerry Wiltshire was named the league's top defender while teammate Davi Alves was the GSC Freshman of the Year. After guiding his Mississippi College team to the regular season title, Kevin Johns was named Co-GSC Coach of the Year along with Auburn-Montgomery's Matthew Thorne who guided a big turnaround for the Warhawks in their first season of postseason eligibility.