Major Arena Soccer League 2 announces 2021-22 first team all stars

TAMPA, Fla. -- Major Arena Soccer League 2 Commissioner Chris Economides has announced first team all-stars for the recently completed 2021-22 season in which the San Diego Sockers 2 dethroned the Cleveland Crunch as champions.

Three of the six selections are from thos two teams, with the Muskego Risers -- who had their most successful season ever on the field -- the Wichita Wings and RGV Barracudas also represented.

"These are the best of the best," Economides noted. "Some already have played in the Major Arena Soccer League, and all certainly have the talent and ability to play at the M1 level. They've represented their cities and M2 in the most positive fashion possible, both on and off the field."

Here are the first team of all stars:

> Forward Admir Suljevic, Cleveland Crunch. Suljevic led all M2 scorers this season with 47 points in nine regular season games, banging in 26 goals and adding 21 assists. He also had two goals and an assist in two playoff appearances.

> Forward Miguel Flores, Muskegon Risers. Despite getting hurt late in the season, the popular Flores led the Risers to a Championship Weekend appearance, where they almost upset the defending champion Crunch. Although unable to play in the post season, Flories made nine starts in the regular season, getting 21 goals and adding seven assists. His 21 goals were fourth best in M2.

Midfielder Hiram Ruiz, San Diego Sockers.  It was quite a season for Ruiz, who dressed for both the Sockers and Sockers 2 this year, as both teams won MASL championships. Ruiz was especially a beast in the M2 post-season, where he led all scorers with nine points including two goals and two assists in a 9-8 win over Omaha in the semi-finals and a hat trick in San Diego's 7-4 win over Cleveland in the M2 title game. In his MASL career, which started in the 2014-15 season, he has played in 109 regular season games, with 76 goals and 46 assists. He's also appeared in 28 playoff games with 21 goals scored.

> Defender Kevin Ten Eyck, Wichita Wings. Ten Eyck is also a veteran of the game, having appeared in many MASL and M2 games. This past season, he led the iconic franchise in points with 26 (13 goals and 13 assists in 11 games.) He began his pro indoor career with the Wings in the 2011-12 season, and appeared in 92 MASL games for the Wings, B-52's and Comets.  Not only was he the Wings leading scorer this year, he also led them in blocked shots.

> Defender Ismael Rojo, San Diego Sockers. Like Ruiz, Rojo dressed for both the Sockers and Sockers 2 this year. He scored one goal and had one assist in his lone post-season game with the Sockers, but recorded eight points for the Sockers 2 in the playoffs, including a team-high six goals. In the regular season, he had 14 goals and five assists in 10 games.

GK -- Diego Arriaga, RGV Barracudas. Arriaga completed the goaltending Triple Crown in M2 thiis year, leading in goals against (5.31), saves percentage (.739) and wins (10). He has appeared in 26 MASL games with RGV, San Diego and Monterey with an excellent GAA of 4.43.

Individual awards will be announced starting later this week.