FARMINGTON, Minn. – Four Carleton College men's soccer players were voted to the All-MIAC team by conference coaches. Sophomore Asher Burt, first-year Matthew Deffo, and fellow rookie Oscar Gates were voted to the first team, and junior Ben Roman was named an Honorable Mention. All four players earned the All-MIAC honor for the first time. Seniors Willan Shrock and Josh Zebrack also received postseason recognition, being named to the All-Playoff team.
 
Deffo and Gates became the first Carleton first-years to be selected to the All-MIAC first team since Marco da Cunha in 2018. Their selections marked the first time in program history that multiple Knights rookies have made the All-Conference team at any level. Carleton became the first MIAC team to have multiple first-years on the All-MIAC First Team since Gustavus in 2019.
 
Burt was a reliable presence at the base of the midfield this season, starting attacks and snuffing out opposition moves. The sophomore scored three goals and assisted another for a total of seven points. Burt led the team with 1661 minutes played, playing all but 49 minutes of Carleton's 19 games.
 
Deffo led Carleton in points with 24, finishing third in the MIAC in points per game with 1.41. The Texan scored nine goals and added six assists, both team-best totals. Of Deffo's 17 appearances, he registered a goal involvement in 11 of them. His nine goals were the third most by a Carleton first-year since 1998 (see chart below).
 
Gates knocked in seven goals and contributed three assists for a total of 17 points, second on the Knights and 12^th in the MIAC. Three of Gates' goals were game-winners, tied for second in the conference. The forward tied for the sixth-most goals by a Carleton rookie since 1998.
 
Roman moved into the central midfield after spending much of his first two years as a full-back and excelled. The junior scored six goals and doled out two assists, including Carleton's 16th recorded hat-trick on Oct. 13 against Augsburg.
 
Shrock and Zebrack both scored in Carleton's 4-2 comeback win over Macalester in the MIAC Quarterfinals. Zebrack scored the Knights' first goal to kickstart the run, and Shrock scored the game winning goal in the 88th minute and provided a game-sealing finish in the final minute.
 
Carleton went 11-7-1 overall with a 6-4 mark in MIAC play. Carleton advanced to the MIAC Semifinals with the win over Macalester, where they met national No. 1 St. Olaf. Carleton led 1-0 after an hour of play until the Oles rallied to score two late goals and down the Knights. Carleton stood toe-to-toe with the eventual MIAC Champions, matching the Oles shot total at nine apiece.
 
Carleton All-MIAC First-Years (All Levels)
Micah Parzen – 1987
David Watson – 2002
Peter Semmer (HM) – 2007
Branden McGarrity – 2012
Marco da Cunha – 2018
Justin Crawmer (HM) – 2019
Jonathan Vonderlage (HM) – 2022
Oscar Gates – 2026
Matthew Deffo – 2026
 
Most Goals By Carleton First Year (Since 1998)
19 — Branden McGarrity (2012)
11 — Marco da Cunha (2018)
9 — Matthew Deffo (2026)
8 — Nick Feltz (2003), Tim Wills (2008)
7 — David Watson (2002), Oscar Gates (2026)
6 — Bobby Phillips (2005), Brian Tenhoor (2005)
5 — Jeremy Schultz (2000), Peter Passalino (2013)