ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Andrew Alaimo, a freshman forward on the Nazareth men's soccer team, has been named Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year for 2008. Alaimo also was one of three Nazareth players selected as a first-team all-star.

Junior back Mohammed Ahamed and sophomore midfielder Rikesh Kotak also were named to the first team and senior midfielder Justin Stevens was named honorable mention. In additon, Nazareth senior Justino Flores was the Golden Flyers' E8 representative as Sportsman of the Year.

Alaimo, of Kirkville, N.Y. and a graduate of East Syracuse-Minoa High School, started all 17 games for the Golden Flyers in 2008 and finished third on the team in scoring with 14 points on seven goals. He was honored as E8 Player of the Week in September.

Kotak, of Leicester, England, also started regularly for the Golden Flyers and finished as the team's leading scorer with 17 points on seven goals and three assists. He also was honored as E8 Player of the Week in October.

Ahamed, of the Bronx, N.Y. and a graduate of Martin Luther King High School, returned to the Nazareth lineup this season after missing all of 2008 with a severe knee injury. He was the E8's Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

Stevens, of Derby, N.Y. and a graduate of Canisius High School, started all 17 games in '08 and finished with 15 points on six goals and three assists. He finished with 19 career goals.

Nazareth finished 7-8-2 overall in 2008 and missed the Empire 8 playoffs after falling to RIT, 2-1, in the regular-season finale last Saturday.

Empire 8 2008 Men's Soccer All-Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Terrence Johnson, Stevens
Rookie of the Year: Andy Alaimo, Nazareth
Doug May Memorial Coach of the Year: Andy Byrne, Ithaca

First Team
Backs
Mohammed Ahamed, jr. Nazareth
Chris Faustino, jr. Stevens
Mike Jordhamo, jr. Ithaca



Midfielders
Jeff Geyer, so. Ithaca
Rikesh Kotak, so. Nazareth
Todd Sheridan, jr. Stevens

Forwards
Andrew Alaimo, fr. Nazareth
Terrance Johnson, jr. Stevens
Luke Lennox, jr. St. John Fisher
Jeremy Lippel, sr. Stevens

Goalie
Andy Wilhelm, sr. Ithaca

Second Team
Backs
Dylan Delamarter, sr. Utica
Andrew McIntosh, so. St. John Fisher
Jason Nachman, sr. Stevens

Midfielders
Dan Ball, sr. Utica
Jeff Diaz, jr. RIT
Bret Dietz, so. RIT
Jason Kaufman, sr. Ithaca

Forwards
Dan Holowaty, so. RIT
Kurt Odenbach, sr. Ithaca
Rob Stevens, sr. Utica

Goalie
Zach Carr, so. Stevens

Honorable Mention
Backs: Matt Coppola, Utica; Brian Couture, Utica; Brad Ervin, St. John Fisher; Dave Vogt, RIT; Josh Williams, Stevens
Midfielders: Peter Bednarsky, Stevens; Jeremy Brand, Elmira; Adam Nudd, Alfred; Justin Stevens, Nazareth; Luke Whelan, Utica
Forwards: Bobby Bullard, RIT; John Tarson, Ithaca
Goalie: Adam Smith, RIT

Sportsman of the Year
Adam Nudd, sr. Alfred
Dane Bertha, sr. Elmira
Andy Wilhelm, sr. Ithaca
Justino Flores, sr. Nazareth
Jeff Diaz, jr. RIT
Dave Slocum, sr. St. John Fisher
Zach Carr, so. Stevens
Dylan Delamarter, sr. Utica