ATLANTA, Ga. – After a regular season that has culminated in an ASUN Championship berth, the Central Arkansas men's soccer team was rewarded with several all=conference nods, as announced by the conference office Friday afternoon.
 
The award-winners include sophomore Pietro Fontana, graduate student Deon Travis, and redshirt freshman Elijah Bishop, three players who were instrumental in the success this season.
 
Fontana was named a First Team All-ASUN forward after placing second in the conference and ninth in the country with 12 goals. He tied a Central Arkansas single-game record and was one of three players in Division I to score four goals in a match, doing so against Queens. He also scored multiple goals against Air Force, and finished the season with a streak of goals in six of the final eight matches.
 
"Pietro began working toward this season last spring, as his focus turned toward being the best teammate and striker he could be," Kohlenstein said of Fontana. "This change in work ethic and focus has paid dividends for him as a striker, but also in being a very valuable teammate and leader on our team."
 
Travis, an earlier recipient of an ASUN All-Academic award, was listed as a Second Team defender after proving to be one of the best defenders in the conference this season. In addition to his duties on the backline, he was instrumental in the transition game for the Bears, turning defense into quick offense. In this role, he added a goal and an assist for himself.
 
"Deon has been a great addition to the squad and has fit into the culture and work ethic as a member of our back four," Kohlenstein said of the Madison, Miss., native. "He has been good for our program on the field and off and will always be considered a Bear moving forward."
 
Bishop earned a spot on the league's All-Freshman team after taking over as a starting center back this year. The Aurora, Colo., native showed tons of potential this season as a leader and top defender, starting all 15 matches and playing a team-high 1,325 minutes. He also added an assist this season, dropping it to Fontana's game-winner against Queens.
 
"After redshirting his first season, Elijah came on strong playing as a starting center back in every match this season," said Kohlenstein. "His improvement as a defender and ability to make contributions as a leader in the team's culture have been significant in what he and the program can accomplish."
 
The Bears continue multiple streaks since joining the ASUN with this group. It marks three-straight years with multiple all-conference caliber players, and a third-straight year with an all-freshman representative. Central Arkansas opens its ASUN Championship in Nashville on Saturday, taking on Queens at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals.