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GREENVILLE, SC – Two members of the Chowan University men’s soccer team received top honors from Conference Carolinas as the league announced its 2024 All-Conference and annual awards on Nov. 8.

Junior Smith was recognized as the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, while Robbie Deighan was honored as the league’s Freshman of the Year.

Smith and Harry Baker earned spots on the Conference Carolinas First Team All-Conference, and Bradley Binns and Charlie Birch were both selected to the Third Team All-Conference.

Smith led the conference with 13 goals. He added three assists to lead the league with 29 points. His three game-winning goals ranked second in Conference Carolinas.

The senior was selected Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Week on October 22 after scoring a pair of goals along with an assist. He tallied all three goals in a 3-3 draw at the University Mount Olive and later scored two goals and added an assist in a 3-2 win at Francis Marion University.

Heading into the conference tournament, Smith has scored at least one goal in each of the last six matches.

As a freshman, Deighan posted two goals and three assists. He was selected Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month in October. He tallied the game-winning goal against Barton College and later added another goal at Barton. All three of his assists came in Hawk wins as well, including a 3-2 win over Francis Marion.

Baker has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches for the Hawks this season. He has contributed three assists and registered four shots on goal.

Binns has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches as well. He has scored one goal and registered three assists, while recording 23 shots, including eight on goal.

Birch, a defender for the Hawks, earned All-Conference recognition in 2023 and has continued to impress this season. He has played and started in all 11 Conference Carolinas matches, contributing a goal and registering nine shots, with three of those on target, all while anchoring the backline.

Other top honors handed out by conference officials went to Gabriel Verona of Converse (Defensive Player of the Year). His coach, Rob Miller, was named as the league’s Coach of the Year.

Chowan has earned the top seed in the Conference Carolinas Championship bracket with a KPI value of .192, finishing the regular season with a 7-2-2 record in conference play. Chowan is set to compete in the championship semifinals on Friday, Nov. 15, at 4:45 p.m. in Browns Summit, NC.