Olivet College’s Dehen and Russell earn NSCAA All-Region honors

OLIVET, Mich. – Olivet College men's soccer players Cole Dehen (Kentwood/East Kentwood) and Esteban Russell (DeWitt) have been named to the 2012 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Central Region teams. Russell is a second-team selection, while Dehen is a third-team selection. The All-Central region teams are selected from schools in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), Northern Athletics Conference, St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and three independent central region teams.

Dehen started all 22 games at the center back position for Olivet. He finished the year with four assists, including three that led to the game-winning goal.

"What a tremendous honor for Cole," said Olivet Head Men's Soccer Coach Chad Wiseman. "Certainty there is no better person to receive this recognition than Cole Dehen for all that he has done for Olivet soccer over the past four years on the field. He has without a doubt left his mark on the Comet men's soccer program."

Russell was the starting forward in all 22 games. He led the Comets in almost every offensive category, including goals (10), assists (15), total shots (112), shots on-goal (54) and game-winning goals (four). Russell's 15 assists broke the single-season record.

"I am very happy for Esteban and he is very deserving of the second-team all-region selection," stated Wiseman. "He has worked extremely hard since joining the Olivet program. This year, Esteban produced one of the best individual offensive season this program has ever seen. I am expecting big things from him in the coming years!"

Dehen and Russell, who were earlier this fall named first-team All-MIAA, are only the fifth and sixth players in school history to earn NSCAA All-Region honors.

The Comets finished the 2012 season with a 16-5-1 overall record and were second in the MIAA with a 10-4 record. The 16 overall wins and 10 MIAA victories were both school records. In addition, Olivet advanced to the MIAA Tournament championship game for the second straight year.