York University Lions men's soccer player Jonathan Lao was named the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Division most valuable player by the conference on Wednesday (Nov. 2), one of three members of the team to earn a major award.
 
Lao, a fourth-year midfielder from Unionville, Ont., is the division's MVP for the second time in his career after also earning the award as a rookie in 2013. His selection marks the seventh time in the last nine seasons that a Lion has earned the honour.
 
Joining him as major award winners was first-year striker Cristian Cavallini, who was recognized as the OUA West rookie of the year, and head coach Carmine Isacco was named the OUA West coach of the year.
 
Lao and Cavallini were two of six OUA West all-stars this season as both earned first-team honours. They were joined on the first team by midfielder Dena Iezady and defender Daniel Gogarty, while defender Matt Arnone and midfielder Ryan Telfer were named to the second team.
 
In addition to being named the MVP twice, Lao has been an OUA all-star in each of his four seasons and was also the OUA and CIS rookie of the year in 2013. This year he continued his stellar play and was crucial to the team's success on offence and defence, scoring four goals and adding three assists in 12 games while controlling play in the central midfield.
 
Cavallini, from Woodbridge, Ont., burst onto the scene in a big way this season, leading the Lions and finishing tied for third in the OUA with 11 goals and he also added four assists. Among his 11 tallies were three game winners. He is the third Lion to earn rookie of the year honours since 2012.
 
Isacco was once again honoured as the division's coach of the year after leading the Lions to another undefeated regular season, their third in the last five years. Despite significant turnover on the roster, including losing five of last year's six OUA West all-stars, Isacco guided the squad to its 10^th straight OUA West Division title and seventh consecutive OUA Final Four berth. He has now been recognized as the coach of the year six times.
 
Iezady, a Richmond Hill, Ont., native, is an OUA West first-team all-star for the first time after previously earning second-team honours twice while playing for the Guelph Gryphons. This season he was tied for 15^th in the OUA with seven goals, including one game winner.
 
Gogarty (Scarborough, Ont.), Arnone (Woodbridge, Ont.) and Telfer (Mississauga, Ont.) are all OUA West all-stars for the first time this year.
 
Gogarty, in his third year with the program, and Arnone, a fifth-year defender, were both key pieces on a Lions defence that allowed only 11 goals in 16 games, the lowest mark in the division. Telfer, meanwhile, started 14 games in his first year as a starter and contributed five goals and two assists.
 
OUA West Major Awards
Most Valuable Player – Jonathan Lao, York
Rookie of the Year – Cristian Cavallini, York
Coach of the Year – Carmine Isacco, York
Community Service Award – Kristian Ferreira, McMaster
 
OUA West First-team All-stars
G – Kyle Vizirakis, Windsor
D – Daniel Gogarty, York
D – Chuka Ononye, Western
D – Tahrik Rodrigues, Laurier
D – Justin Springer, Guelph
M – Dena Iezady, York
M – Jonathan Lao, York
M – Yunus Mollayev, McMaster
M – Parker Seymour, Western
S – Cristian Cavallini, York
S – Niklas Bauer, Laurier
 
OUA West Second-team All-stars
G – Andrew Johnstone, Algoma
D – Matt Arnone, York
D – Marco Bernabo, Windsor
D – Aaron Schneebeli, Western
D – Aleks Vincic, McMaster
M – Jeremy Arnold, Western
M – Ethan Danielli, Guelph
M – Marco Gennaccaro, McMaster
M – Ryan Telfer, York
S – Jace Kotsopoulos, Guelph
S – Tomasz Skublak, Guelph