Holman, Leyva named Honorable Mention All-SSC
Forward, defender grab honors for first-year squad

PORTALES, N.M. — Eastern New Mexico University sophomore forward Johnathan Holman (Rio Rancho, NM/Rio Rancho HS) and freshman defenseman Marcus Leyva (San Angelo, TX/Central HS) were named Honorable Mention All-Southwest Soccer Conference, it was announced on Monday, Nov. 7 by the conference office. Holman was Eastern’s leading scorer with 13 points on five goals and three assists, while Leyva was a key force for an ENMU team defense that finished fifth in the conference in goals against average.

Holman was a two-time Offensive Player of the Week selection this season, on Sept. 8 and Sept 21. He scored two goals and one assist in a 4-1 victory over Colorado Christian University on Sept. 3, posting a total of six points in the team’s first three games. He also scored both goals in ENMU’s first-ever SSC win, a 2-0 triumph over St. Edward’s University on Sept. 17. He added the game-winning goal and an assist in the Hounds’ 3-1 victory over St. Mary’s University on Oct. 29, giving him the game-winner in two of ENMU’s three conference victories.

Leyva was a mainstay for the ENMU defense, as Eastern held conference opponents to one goal or fewer 10 times in 14 games and posted three shutouts. Leyva started 17 of the team’s 20 games, and assisted on Holman’s second goal of the game against SEU on Sept. 17. He also notched five shots for the 2004 campaign.

Northeastern State University led the way with 10 All-SSC selections. NSU also swept the individual awards, and finished as runners-up to the University of the Incarnate Word at the conference tournament. Sergio Salinas was named Offensive Player of the Year after leading the SSC with 59 points, while Adam Douglas was named Defensive Player of the Year. NSU’s Paul Marshall earned Freshman of the Year honors and Charlie Mitchell was named Coach of the Year.

The Greyhounds finished their inaugural season with a 6-12-2 overall record and a 3-10-1 mark in the SSC, but finished strong, going 1-1-1 in their final three contests, the lone loss a 1-0 decision at the hands of UIW. Eastern finished seventh in the conference with 10 points, just three points behind fifth-place St. Edward’s and two behind sixth-place St. Mary’s.