DANBURY, Conn.- Juniata men's soccer head coach Brendan Grady was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) 2024 Division III Men's Soccer Coach of the Year. Gavin Rauhut was named to the All-ECAC First Team, while Shawn Tanaka was named to the second team.  

Grady earned his second coaching accolade this season after being named Landmark Coach of the Year. The team had its best-ever finish in regular-season conference play, winning the most games and earning the most shutouts. He led the team to its first trophy, as the Eagles won the ECAC Championship with a 3-1 victory over Rutgers-Newark.

Rauhut claims another honor after being named to the all-conference first team following a season that saw him contribute all over the field. He totaled 15 points (3g, 9a) and was tied for the conference lead in assists (9), which included assisting both goals in the ECAC semifinal match against McDaniel. Rauhut's nine assists are tied for the second-most in a single season in program history. 

Tanaka adds another award to the most decorated season for a Juniata men's soccer player in program history. He was a United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region selection, the Landmark Rookie of the Year, an all-conference first-team selection, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship MVP. He led the conference in game-winning goals (7), was second in the conference in goals (12), third in points (29), and was tied for sixth in assists (5). In the final 14 matches of the season, he had a goal or an assist in 12 of them, including the final six matches. Tanaka's 12 goals are tied for the second most in program history in a single season. His 29 points are tied for the second-most in program history in a single season. 

ABOUT THE ECAC
The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-five-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast. The ECAC also hosts a comprehensive esports program that presently involves 160 schools fielding 1100 teams across 14 different esports games, streamed live four nights a week. The ECAC's esports platform has and continues to expand the geographic footprint of the conference nationally.