POPLARVILLE, MISS. — The MACCC announced its All-Conference awards on Wednesday and the Gulf South District Champion Pearl River men's soccer team took home a flurry of awards.

Christopher Dommer (Copenhagen, Denmark; Øregård Gymnasium), Tiago Honorio Jr. (São Paulo, Brazil; Zacarias Antônio da Silva) and Aden Smith (Biloxi) earned First Team while Ian Graham (Meridian; Biloxi) grabbed Second Team. Head coach Drew Gallant and assistants Joe Guinchard and Brandon Butler were named Staff of the Year.

CHRISTOPHER DOMMER
Dommer finished the 2023 campaign as Pearl River's leading scorer with 14 goals in 19 games. He also tied for second on the team in assists with six. 

Dommer was massive in Pearl River's impressive run to the National Tournament. He picked up three goals and an assist in the Gulf South District tournament alone.

The attacking midfielder was special in his Wildcat career, as he bagged 27 goals and 18 assists over the last two seasons.

"It was nice to have Chris back. He has led the team in goals in back-to-back years," Gallant said. "He's a very special player. He's always creating chances for himself and others. Having him for the last two years has been great, and we hate losing him. We wish him all the best wherever he chooses to go next."

TIAGO HONORIO JR.
Honorio Jr. dealt with the injury bug to begin the season but was an immediate difference-maker once he found his way back onto the pitch. 

The freshman finished the year second on the team in goals with 12 and led Pearl River in assists with seven. 

The 6-foot-4 striker contributed a pair of assists in the Gulf South District Championship victory over Gulf Coast.

"We missed Tiago at the beginning of the season, and that really hurt us," Gallant said. "That was probably a big factor in our slow start. Getting him back was when things really started to turn around for us. He still dealt with some injuries all year, so we hope we can get him healthy this offseason and get a huge year from him next year."

ADEN SMITH
Smith had a big-time year as the leader along the backline for Pearl River. The centerback helped the Wildcats finish with a goals-against average of 1.52. He contributed two goals and two assists, and no goal was bigger all season than his golden goal in the Gulf South District Final to propel Pearl River to the NJCAA National Tournament.

"We expected big things out of Aden last year and didn't get as much as we wanted," Gallant said. "He had a really good offseason and came in and plugged the hole at centerback. He stepped up as a leader and became our captain. He had a really good season.

"You can't overlook the game-winner in the District Final in overtime. He became a very special player for us and will be missed."

IAN GRAHAM
Pearl River entered the year expecting Graham to be a big piece in the attack. The freshman contributed five goals and an assist before transitioning to the backline late in the year. He flourished in his new role and became a lockdown defender for the Wildcats.

"Ian is an all-around good athlete and soccer player," Gallant said. "We had a feeling that the transition was coming for him. We needed his athleticism more back there. He seemed a little more comfortable there and was incredible. We're looking forward to a big year from him next year."

STAFF OF THE YEAR
Gallant, Guinchard and Butler earned the Staff of the Year award after a remarkable turnaround for the Wildcats. PRCC went 1-4 to begin the year before rattling off 13 consecutive unbeaten matches to win the Gulf South District Championship, sending the Wildcats to the National Tournament for the second time in program history.

"It's a great honor," Gallant said. "There are a lot of great coaches in this league and a lot of coaches who deserved this. We're honored to have received it.

"Joe and Brandon have done a really good job in their first year here. They are leaders on and off the field and are great representatives of this college. They are very knowledgeable about the game, and we're lucky to have them." 

For the latest on Pearl River Community College athletics, follow us on X (@PRCCAthletics) and Facebook (PRCCAthletics).