DAHLONEGA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference released the 2009 Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference team Thursday afternoon and Rade Tanaskovic and Ben Chedgy were named to the team for the first time in their career.

The team was selected by the league’s head coaches and, due to a tie at midfielder, features 12 players for 2009. Lander led the way with four players on the team while Clayton State, North Georgia, USC Aiken and defending PBC Champions Francis Marion had two apiece. Tanaskovic was honored as the only goalkeeper on the team, while Chedgy was one of three defenders selected.

Tanaskovic was named PBC Goalkeeper of the Week during the 2008 season, and was near the top of almost every goalkeeper Statistic in the Peach Belt Conference. He was first in saves with 87, 12 saves ahead of the second place goalie, sixth in goal against average, and second in save percentage. He led every freshman in the league in each major goalkeeper statistical category, including saves, save percentage, saves per game, shutouts, and shutouts per game. The freshman tallied five shutouts and had a goals against average of 1.55.

A First-Team PBC All-Conference selection in 2008, Chedgy led the Saints’ defense that recorded four shutouts on the season, and allowed fewer than 10 shots per game. The sophomore played in all 19 games, starting 18 of those as a defender. Chedgy logged 1347 minutes, more than any other position player on the team.

The Saints will open the regular season on the road at Florida Southern and St. Leo University before returning home for three straight home games against Erskine College, Nova Southeastern, and Tampa University.

North Georgia opens the Peach Belt Conference portion of the 2009 schedule on the road at USC Aiken on September 12, before returning home to face Lander University on September 26. Trips to Clayton State, Francis Marion, and Montevello round out the league schedule on the road, while the Saints will welcome Georgia Southwestern, Flagler, and finally UNC Pembroke to town to close out the regular season.

2009 Peach Belt Conference
Men’s Soccer Preseason All-Conference Team

Forwards
Adam Arthur, Lander
Aaron Brittain, Lander
Kyle Clinton, Francis Marion
Leighton Fredericks, Clayton State

Goalkeeper
Rade Tanaskovic, North Georgia

Midfielders
Jamie Davidson, Lander
Ivan Juric, Francis Marion
Kyle Timm, Clayton State
Troy Watson, USC Aiken

Defenders
Ben Chedgy, North Georgia
Jamie Ramm, Lander
John Lesko, USC Aiken