BOSTON – The America East Conference men's soccer coaches tabbed UMBC senior forward
Taylor Calheira as the league's 2023 Striker of the Year.
Calheira becomes the first Retriever soccer player to repeat as a major award winner since
Pete Caringi III achieved the feat in 2012/2013 and is one of only four players to bring home back-to-back accolades.
- Taylor Calheira, Striker of the Year, 2022/23
- Pete Caringi III, Striker of the Year, 2012/13
- Levi Houapeu, Midfielder/Striker of the Year, 2009/10
- Matt Watson, Midfielder of the Year, 2004/05
Eleven different Retrievers have won America East Conference men's soccer major awards since 2003.
After earning All-Rookie Team honors in the spring of 2020, Calheira has been selected to the America East First Team over the past three fall campaigns, becoming the first Retriever since Caringi to earn three consecutive top honors. Only four players in school history have three-peated as AE first team members, including defender Marcus Gross (2003-05) and midfielder/forward Andrew Bulls (2009-11).
Calheira reached the 10-goal plateau in back-to-back seasons and his 32nd career strike vs. UNH moved him into eighth place on the school's all-time list. He completed his tenure tied for eighth place on the Retrievers' all-time points list with 79.
