SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Coming off its seventh-straight season securing an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) championship, the Yellowjacket men's soccer team saw eight players receive All-UMAC recognition, as the league announced its award winners in an announcement Thursday.
 
Spearheading the list of first team honorees were Yellowjackets Josh Bellamy (High Wycombe, England/FAB Football Academy), Jake Kidd (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and Felipe Oliveira (Belo Horizonte, Brazil/Colegio Soma). Harry Ambler (Reading, England/Little Heath School), Alex Hanson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), Alex Paredes (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) and Freddy Watson (Wendover, England/Berkshire College of Agriculture) were all named to the All-UMAC Second Team, while Mackie Ringrose (Ewhurst, England/St. Peter's Catholic School) collected an honorable mention nod.
 
For the fifth time in his Yellowjacket coaching career, head coach Joe Mooney picked up another UMAC Coach of the Year honor, while also collecting his 200th win in late September.
 
Gavin Watkinson (Lakeville, Minn./Farmington Area) was tabbed as the 'Jackets' representative on the All-UMAC Sportsmanship Team.
 
Bellamy picked up his fourth All-UMAC honor, receiving a first team citation in his freshman and sophomore seasons, along with securing the Rookie of the Year award in 2021. Starting in 20 out of 21 matches played, Bellamy was very strong offensively this season for the 'Jackets, as he sits second on the team with minutes played (1,380), goals scored (nine), total points (27), shots fired (57), and is tied for first with three game-winning goals. In the UMAC Bellamy is sixth in shots and goals, while leading the pack with nine assists.
 
Kidd put together another strong season for the 'Jackets after securing Rookie of the Year honors from the circuit last season. He currently leads the squad with 13 goals and four assists for a point total of 30. He is tied for most shots on goal with 32, as well as for game-winning goals with three. Kidd totaled 1,276 minutes throughout the campaign while starting in 21 of 22 matches, earning him his first selection to the conference's first team.
 
Oliveira made an immediate impact on the pitch for the Yellowjackets in 2023, landing him on the All-UMAC First Team. Being one of just three players to see action in all 22 matches, he played 1,345 minutes and found the back of the net on five occasions while assisting on three occasions. He sits third on the team in total shots with 54 while in a tie of first place with 32 shots on frame. His best offensive effort was recorded against Martin Luther, collecting five points off two goals and an assist as the Yellowjackets defeated the Knights 7-0.
 
Hanson earned his second All-UMAC honor, receiving a second team nod. He was yet again another instrumental member of the back line for the Yellowjackets, playing in 19 matches and starting 18. Hanson totaled 1,234 minutes on the season while pitching in defensive efforts that led to the 'Jackets surrendering just 0.59 goals per match and 6.9 shots per match, resulting in 12 clean sheets.
 
Ambler cards his third straight second team honor as a Yellowjacket. Starting in 17 out of 18 matches played, he would notch 1,046 minutes and rifle 12 total shots. Out of those 12, five were on frame and two resulted in goals, coming in matches against North Central (Sept. 13) and Northwestern (Oct. 11). The Yellowjackets would win both of those games by 5-1 and 7-0 decisions, respectively.  
 
Paredes earns himself his third All-UMAC honor, improving his rank from All-UMAC Honorable Mention in 2021 and 2022 to a second-team recipient in 2023. Paredes started and played in 20 matches this season, logging 1,662 minutes in net and boasting a 14-3-2 record. With a goal against average of 0.60 and a save percentage of .843, he posted nine shutouts on the season for a career total of 17, setting the men's soccer all-time shutout record.
 
Watson collected his first conference postseason award as a sophomore after playing in 21 out of 22 matches. Starting in 19, he picked up 15 points off five goals and five assists in 1,271 minutes on the pitch. He would rifle 24 shots on target out of 47 total shots for a shot-on-goal percentage of .511. Watson picked up four points against North Central (Sept. 13) where he found the back of the net twice and led the offensive attack for the Yellowjackets, securing a 5-1 win over the Rams. Additionally, two of his goals were deemed the game-winner.
 
Ringrose also earns his first award from the UMAC, securing an honorable mention citation. Starting 13 matches out of 21 played, his 967 minutes led him to four goals and six assists for 14 points. He notched a game-winning goal against Minnesota Morris on Sept. 16, leading the Yellowjackets to a 4-0 decision over the Cougars.
 
The Yellowjackets have secured a ticket to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Regional, facing off against St. Olaf. Kickoff from Rolf Mellby Field is set for Saturday, Nov. 11 with an 11 a.m. start.