Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
TORRES NABS 1ST TEAM ALL-REGION AND GSAC HONORS, THREE OTHERS LAUDED

TORRES NABS 1ST TEAM ALL-REGION AND GSAC HONORS, THREE OTHERS LAUDED

Carlos Torres gained First Team All-Region 19 and First Team All-Garden State Athletic Conference honors after a fine sophomore campaign as the leader of a strong Middlesex defense.

Middlesex allowed just 1.35 goals against per game in 2023 with Torres, a sophomore from Old Bridge, NJ, leading the way. The Colts goals against average was 155th best in the country on the NJCAA Division III level.

Juan Arboleda (Sophomore/Elizabeth, NJ) was named 2nd Team All-Region and All-GSAC, Mateo Rodriguez (Freshman/North Plainfield, NJ) was named 3rd Team All-Region and All-GSAC and Kevin Lorenc (Sophomore/Carteret, NJ) was named 3rd Team All-GSAC.

Torres was consistently excellent and very reliable on the back line for Head Coach Javier Velasco. He was the only Colt to start every game this year and was a vocal leader on and off the field. Middlesex allowed one goal or less in eight of the 17 games they played this year with Torres leading the defense.

Arboleda was a dynamic player on the field who showed outstanding speed in the midfield for the Colts. He scored six times this season while assisting on five other goals. Arboleda saved his best game for one of the biggest spots for the Colts this season. With Middlesex battling for a playoff spot, Arboleda scored both goals in a key 2-2 tie with Montgomery CC, a team that lost just one region game this season.

Rodriguez was another consistent performer for Middlesex as a defensive midfielder. Rodriguez started 15 games for the Colts this season and was a physical presence in the midfield this season.

Lorenc has been another stalwart on defense for Middlesex over the past two seasons. The sophomore defender is a vocal leader on the field and has started 25 out of 27 games over the past two seasons for Middlesex. His total of 27 games played over the past two seasons is second only to Arboleda, who has 30.

Middlesex Men's Soccer completed another outstanding season in 2023, taking another step forward in the postseason under Velasco, the team's third-year Head Coach. After missing the playoffs in 2021, the Colts qualified last year but lost a first round matchup against Brookdale. In 2023, Middlesex qualified for the Region 19 Tournament once again and defeated Sussex CC to advance to the Region 19 District A semifinals where they fell to top-seeded Camden CC. Under Velasco, Middlesex has posted two straight winning seasons and has averaged eight wins a year.