GREENWOOD, S.C. – Clayton State men's soccer has earned three Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Southeast Region selections, including a pair of First-Team choices, as announced by that organization on Wednesday, November 20.
 
Earning spots on the First-Team at goalkeeper were junior Theo Blachon (St. Etienne, France) and at midfield redshirt-sophomore Ryan King (County Durham, England) while senior defender Jordan Knight (Javea, Spain) was named to the Second-Team at that position. It is the first selection for each in their careers.
 
The three selections tie for the third most in program history for this award, matching the 2009 team and trailing the five named from the 2007 and 2010 squads. Additionally, the two First-Team honorees trail only the three from that 2007 team and equal the two each from 2010 and 2011.
 
As a group, these three individuals helped lead Clayton State to a 14-6 overall record and a 5-2 mark in the Peach Belt Conference. That win total is tied for the third most wins in a season in program history, trailing the 2010 Elite Eight team (19-4) and the 2000 squad (18-3-1) and equaling the 2007 club (14-4-2).
 
RYAN KING – FIRST-TEAM
King earned his recognition with a season for the ages, and that with less than the full complement of games. While seeing action in just 17 of a possible 20 games he registered 17 goals and two assists for 36 points.
 
His goal total tied for the Southeast Region lead and his point total was just one off of that lead while he ranked in the Top-10 in NCAA Division II in four major categories. The latter would see him rank third in goals per game (1.0), sixth in total goals, ninth in points per game (2.12) and 10^th in total points.
 
In terms of the Peach Belt Conference he was named the league's Player of the Year and an All-PBC First-Team selection. Additionally, he earned the Gold Ball Award as the league's leading scorer and also led in points
 
A three-time PBC Player of the Week selection in 2019, which is a program record, King also became the first Laker to be named the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week on November 5. That followed a five goal week that was capped by all three in a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory at No. 7 Francis Marion on November 2.
 
THEO BLACHON – FIRST-TEAM
Quite simply one of the best keepers in the country, in his first year at the NCAA Division II level, Blachon delivered a 14-6 record with eight shutouts and picked up a considerable amount of hardware along the way.
 
Playing all 1,830 minutes, he posted a 0.98 goals against average, .811 save percentage and 86 saves and ranked among the national leaders all season long. He finished the year sixth in goalie minutes, 16^th in shutouts, 17^th in save percentage and 41^st in GAA. Additionally he ranked second and sixth, respectively, in the Southeast Region both of those latter categories.
 
On top of his skills in the goal itself, Blachon also helped his own efforts as he delivered a pair of assists earlier in the year. All of those efforts led to him being named All-PBC First-Team and a program single season and career record four-time PBC Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
In the 11 years that Clayton State has had at least one honoree for this award, Blachon is one of just three keepers to have been named All-Region and is the first to earn First-Team recognition.
 
JORDAN KNIGHT – SECOND-TEAM
The Lakers' ironman, Knight hardly left the field all year for a defense that recorded 14 games of one goal or fewer allowed, including eight shutouts. Additionally, his defense did not surrender more than three goals in a game, and that only twice.
 
He played 1,766 minutes, the most of any field player, while starting all 20 games and was recognized as an All-PBC First-Team selection. On top of that honor, Knight was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week a program single season and career record four times.
 
Highlighting his efforts in 2019 was a career first that came at the biggest moment. Locked in a 1-1 overtime battle in the PBC Quarterfinals against Flagler, and in his 70^th career game, Knight delivered the game-winner for his first career goal. That win sent Clayton State to the semifinals for a third straight season.
 
D2CCA/DAKTRONICS ALL-REGION HISTORY
The three selections marks the third straight year, and 11^th overall, that at least one Laker has been selected to the D2CCA All-Region Team, dating back to 2007.
 
Overall, Blachon, King and Knight drive the program's all-time total to 24 selections among 22 different individuals. It is also the ninth time in the past 11 seasons that Clayton State has been represented.

NOTE: Prior to 2015, the D2CCA All-Southeast Region Team was title sponsored by Daktronics.
 
About the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA)
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

2019 D2CCA Men's Soccer All-Southeast Region Team
First Team
GK      Theo Blachon, Clayton State
F          Paul Ngongo, Wingate
F          Harrison Ardron, Chowan
F          Sondre Olsen, Young Harris
F          Ben Delisle, King
M         Ryan King, Clayton State
M         #Elliot Cutts, Wingate
M         David Alvarez, Queens
M         Robbie Young, Lander
D         ^Toby Sims, Chowan
D         #Michael Hornsby, Queens
D         Kensho Yoshikoshi, Carson-Newman
D         Sam Pollard, Francis Marion 
 
Second Team                                                                    
GK      Maximiliano Rocco, Francis Marion
F          Max Bolton, Lander
F          Dan McGuire, Flagler
F          Ruben Mancio, Barton
F          Seba Andreassen, Young Harris
M         Alvaro Zamora, Francis Marion
M         Travis Cooke, Francis Marion
M         *Val Feeney, Young Harris
M         Trevin Myers, Chowan
D         Owen Marshall, Wingate
D         Jordan Knight, Clayton State
D         Ali Koller, Young Harris
D         Sebastian Marx, Limestone
 
2019 Southeast Region Player of the Year
Paul Ngongo, Wingate
 
*2018 1^st Team All-Southeast Region
^2018 2^nd Team All-Southeast Region
#2017 2^nd Team All-Southeast Region

Clayton State Men's Soccer D2CCA/Daktronics All-Region History (24 Selections /22 Individuals)
2019: Theo Blachon (First-Team), Ryan King (First-Team), Jordan Knight (Second-Team)
2018: Kwaku Dwamena (Second-Team)
2017: Kwaku Dwamena (Second-Team)
2015: Avery Shepard (Second-Team)
2014: Avery Shepard (Second-Team)
2013: Alhagi Toure (First-Team)
2012: Ado Junuzovic (Second-Team)
2011: Chris Klute (First-Team), Janny Rivera (First-Team)
2010: Ryan Pugh (First-Team), Igor Lukic (First-Team), Arturo Cruz (Second-Team), Matty Phillips (Second-Team), Brian Garcia (Second-Team)
2009: Kyle Timm (Second-Team), Liam Brown (Second-Team), David Cristofoli (Second-Team)
2007: Karl Haggon (First-Team), Hailab Habtom (First-Team), Jamal Geathers (First-Team), Marijan Babic (Second-Team), Tonny Madegwa (Second-Team)