Matt Hoff Wins Ivy League Rookie of the Year Award

The Ivy League released its end of the season men’s soccer awards yesterday, and freshman forward Matt Hoff came away a winner.

Hoff was named the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year and was selected as a second-team All-Ivy honoree.

The Crimson’s freshman sensation, who was twice named Ivy League Rookie of the Week, led the team in goals (8) and points (18) but saw his playing time limited near the end of the season due to a knee injury.

Senior midfielder Kevin Ara—second on the team in points with 14—was Harvard’s only player named to the first team. One of just three players to start all 17 games this year, Ara was a consistent force for the Crimson.

In the preseason, Ara was named one of 15 players to watch for the Hermann Award, given to the nation’s best all-around player.

Ara did not make the cut to the list’s semi-finals.

This is the second year in a row that Ara has been named a first team All-Ivy selection. Last year he was also a third-team All-American and first team all-New England. In 2001, he garnered second-team All-Ivy and All-New England recognition.

Captain defender Andrew Old joined Hoff on the second-team as the Crimson’s final award winner. Old anchored the Crimson defense this year and was an All-Ivy honorable mention in 2001.

No. 11 Brown’s Adom Crew earned player of the year honors after leading the league in five statistical categories, including scoring. Crew will lead the Ivy Champion Bears (10-3-3, 6-0-1 Ivy) against St. Peter’s (17-4-2) on Saturday.

Brown and Yale led the Ivy League with three first team selections apiece.