Genesee Community College men's soccer players Billy Murphy and Tate Dean have officially committed to continuing their collegiate soccer careers at National Collegiate Athletic Conference D-II Auburn University at Montgomery (Montgomery, Ala.).
Auburn Montgomery men's soccer head coach Wulf Koch has announced the addition of forward Billy Murphy and defender Tate Dean for the 2018 season, who both hail from England.
Murphy helped lead the Cougars to a NJCAA D-III men's soccer national title in 2017 by playing in 21 games and tallying 12 goals and eight assists, including an assist on the equalizer in the national championship game against defending national champion Richland College with his team down 1-0.
"Billy is extremely mobile as a center forward," said Koch. "He can work back, get the ball and then can finish or provide. He's a good finisher and provider and is just an outstanding person."
He was fourth on the team in goals scored with a game-winner against Finger Lakes Community College on Oct. 11, 2017. Murphy was also named the NJCAA National Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 9-15 and helped the Cougars to a 20-2-1 in his one season with the Cougars, that included a season-ending 11-game winning streak as well as a 20-game unbeaten streak.
Dean was also instrumental in the Cougars capturing the NJCAA D-III men's soccer national title this past season while playing in18 contests where he scored five goals while also adding seven assists from his left back spot during his sophomore season.
"Tate is a left back with an incredible amount of energy and endurance who can go forward," said Koch. "He can go up and down the sideline for 90 minutes and can also finish when given the chance."
During his freshman campaign he played in 19 contests in helping lead GCC to a third-place national finish. For his efforts in 2016 he was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team. He posted one goal and two assists during his freshman campaign.
The pair of GCC national champion players hope to help with AUM's transition into NCAA D-II from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), where the team competed at for about three decades. The team was not eligible for post-season play last season as a new entrée as a member of the Gulf South Conference.
