Charles Named Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Montana State Billings men’s soccer senior forward Sam Charles has been named the Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year adding to his list of accolades this season.

“I am very proud of this award and I thank everyone who voted for me,” Charles said.  “When I arrived at MSUB, I had every intention of leaving my mark and I have worked hard throughout my career to do this.  Obviously I am very thankful to everyone associated with MSUB for helping me improve as both a player and individual.”

Sports Information Directors from NCAA Division II schools and conferences sponsoring men’s soccer
selected the Daktronics All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first team All-Region picks advancing to the national ballot. This is the fourth year Daktronics has sponsored the NCAA Division II men’s soccer All-America and All-Region teams.

“This is a great achievement for Sam and our men’s soccer program,” head coach Dan McNally said.  “I am very proud of all of Sam’s accomplishments during his career, but this award is special.  When I recruited Sam, I had high expectations for him, but during his career he exceeded them.  This award demonstrates that MSUB men’s soccer has started to make an impact in our region and on a national level.   It is a great honor for our team.”

Charles is the first Daktronics National Player of the Year in conference history and the fourth overall in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  Bobby McAlister of Seattle University was the NSCAA National Player of the Year in 2004, while Shannon Lovejoy (Seattle Pacific) won 2005 and Meredith Teague (SPU) also earned the prestigious NSCAA honor in 2008.

"All of us at MSUB are excited and pleased that Sam Charles has been selected to receive this prestigious award,” Director of Athletics Dr. Gary Gray said.  “He is highly-deserving since he has worked so hard during each of his four seasons as a Yellowjacket.  We wish Sam well in his future endeavors.  He is a fine young man who has achieved at the highest levels academically and athletically; he is indeed a role model for all NCAA Division II student-athletes."

A native of Chiswell, England, Charles finished one of the most storied careers in MSUB history as he broke the school and conference record with 24 goals in 2009.  He was named Daktronics West Region Player of the Year in 2009 and finished his career with 69 goals, 18 assists and 156 points.  He is the first student-athlete in MSUB history to be named National Player of the Year in any sport.

Charles finished the 2009 season as a first team all-conference selection with a school and conference record 24 goals, seven assists and 55 points.  He was named GNAC Player of the Year for the second time (2007) and was a three-time first team all-conference selection.  Charles led the nation with 24 goals scored and finished second nationally in goals per game (1.33) and second nationally in points per game (3.06).  Charles helped lead the Yellowjackets to their school record third consecutive double-digit wins in a season and second-most wins in school history with an 11-5-2 record.

“I have been very fortunate to have some great teammates and coaches and without them I would not have achieved this,” Charles added.  “I would like to thank my parents for everything and giving me the opportunity to come to the United States and supporting me and giving me the belief in myself.”

No stranger to Daktronics, Charles was named third team Daktronics All-America in 2007 and was an honorable mention selection in 2008.  He became the first player in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history to earn back-to-back Daktronics All-America honors.  He is a five-time all-American and was named CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America second team in 2008 and 2009. 

Charles virtually rewrote both the GNAC and school record books.  He set conference and school marks this season for consecutive games with a goal (9) and consecutive games with a point (15).  He set the conference record for points and goals in a career early this season.  The amazing part is that Charles broke the records in just over two years in the league.  MSUB was in the Heartland Conference Charles’ freshman year.  During his time in the GNAC, Charles tallied 62 goals, 16 assists and 140 points.

Not only has Charles excelled on the field, but in the classroom, too. He is scheduled to graduate in December and carries a 3.60 grade point average in health and human performance.  He has earned back-to-back MSUB Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors and was named GNAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2008-2009. 

In three years in the GNAC, Charles earned academic all-conference honors each year and helped MSUB men’s soccer to the best team grade point average in 2007 and 2008 in the conference.  In addition, Charles helped lead the Yellowjackets to the third-best team grade point average in the country in 2007-08.

Charles is the only GNAC student-athlete named to any of the Daktronics All-America teams in 2009.