FULL OAC RELEASE
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- The Ohio Athletic Conference announced the postseason awards for men's soccer on Thursday morning, featuring the inclusion of three Capital University players --
Jack Francisco,
Bailey Lach, and
Mitch Hughes.
Francisco was named to the All-OAC First Team, while both Lach and Hughes were selected to the All-OAC Second Team.
The postseason recognition is not the first for this grouping of players. Francisco was a second team selection a season ago and was named to the OAC All-Tournament team earlier this week. Lach was also tabbed to the OAC All-Tournament team earlier this week. And, Hughes has now been selected to the second team for the third time in his career.
Francisco, a sophomore native of Columbus, led Capital in scoring this season with nine goals and three assists, good for 21 points. His nine goals had him in a crowded tie for second in the conference this year. Francisco had a solid season troubling defenders all year, but he really exploded in the OAC Tournament with four goals in two games, including a second-half hat-trick in a come-from-behind win over Wilmington in the quarterfinals. Francisco is Capital's first men's soccer first team selection since a group of three players claimed the award in 2018.
Lach, a senior from Cincinnati, led the Comets in assists this season and finished tied for third in the OAC with six. Furthermore, Lach -- a starting outside back -- was instrumental in helping the Comets keep eight clean sheets this season. On September 13th, Lach was named the OAC's defensive player of the week after leading the Comets to a pair of clean sheets and dishing out three assists in those two matches as well. This is Bailey's first postseason All-Conference accolade.
Hughes, a senior native of Clintonville, was a dominant leader for the Comets this season while on the field before an injury cut his season short. In his 13 matches played, Hughes scored two goals and dished out four assists. Since transferring to Capital after his freshman year, Hughes has claimed second team All-OAC honors each year. He is Capital's first three-time All-Conference player since Greg Knox from 2017 to 2019.
The trio of players helped lead Capital to a 10-8-1 overall record, including a 4-4-1 mark in the conference. The team was also ranked in the United Soccer Coaches polls as high as No. 7 this season.
