Played key role in back line as San Antonio recorded league-high 15 shutouts
Published on November 21, 2017 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - The United Soccer League announced on Tuesday San Antonio FC's Sebastien Ibeagha had been voted the 2017 USL Defender of the Year after a stalwart season at the heart of a San Antonio defense that conceded the fewest goals in the league and led the league in shutouts during the regular season.
Ibeagha received 54 percent of the vote to claim the award, with Louisville City FC's Paco Craig earning 27 percent to finish second and FC Cincinnati's Harrison Delbridge recording 19 percent to finish third.
The 2017 USL Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market. Voting was conducted following the conclusion of the 2017 USL regular season.
"It's truly an honor to win this award, but I would be remiss if I failed to mention how big of a role the entire team played in this accomplishment," Ibeagha said. "We had a great group this season, and without them, we would not have had such a great defensive record. I want to thank the USL for giving me this award, and I'm honored to be among the other finalists who had great seasons."
Ibeagha joined San Antonio this past offseason and quickly established himself as a cornerstone in what proved to be the stingiest defense during the 2017 USL regular season. Ibeagha led the league with 190 clearances and won 113 of 184 duels and 56 of 86 aerials duels, as his ability to win one-on-one matchups highlighted his season.
Finishing second only to Greg Cochrane in SAFC's squad with 2,700 minutes of action during the regular season, Ibeagha helped marshal a defense that conceded only 24 goals in 32 regular-season contests and posted a league-leading 15 shutouts.
2017 USL Awards
Goalkeeper of the Year: Diego Restrepo, San Antonio FC
Coach of the Year: Mark Briggs, Real Monarchs SLC
Defender of the Year: Sebastien Ibeagha, San Antonio FC
Rookie of the Year: Announced November 21
Most Valuable Player: Announced November 22
About USL
The USL is one of the most prominent Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, with 30 markets in 20 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces for the 2017 season. In total, the USL reaches a population of 75 million people, fueling the growth of professional soccer across North America.
In 2016, more than $100 million were invested league-wide into stadium infrastructure to create venues that deliver an unforgettable fan and competitor experience. The USL has national media partnerships with ESPN and SiriusXM, and recently invested $10 million to create USL Productions - which includes a state-of-the-art facility that will produce and distribute nearly 500 league matches and more than 1,000 hours of original content to national partners, local affiliates, USL's Match Center and international markets.
A growing league, the USL has more than doubled in size since 2014, with Ottawa Fury FC, Reno 1868 FC and the Tampa Bay Rowdies debuting in 2017. Nashville SC, Fresno FC and Las Vegas Lights FC are set to join the league for 2018, with Birmingham, Alabama and Austin, Texas set to join the league in 2019. Beyond league play, the USL regularly features international exhibitions against leading Premier League, Liga MX, and Bundesliga clubs, among others.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the USL provides unparalleled club support with a growing team of more than 50 professionals across 17 departments, ranging from operations to marketing, communications and sponsorship. Follow the USL at USLSoccer.com, the USL Match Center, and on social media via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
USL Public Relations - Nicholas Murray / Aaron Cranford - Tampa, FL - 813.963.3909
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from November 21, 2017
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
