NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Six Billikens, including three major award winners, were named to the Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer All-Conference team, which was released today.
 
John Klein was named the A-10's co-Offensive Player of the Year, while Alberto Suarez was tabbed the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Kevin Kalish was voted the league's Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season.
 
Joining Klein and Suarez on the All-Conference first team was Christian Buendia, who also landed on the All-Academic team. Freshmen CJ Coppola and Max Floriani were named to the All-Rookie team.
 
A first-team All-Conference selection last season, Klein returned for his fifth season of eligibility this year and leads the Billikens in scoring with 19 points (7G, 5A). He has 85 points (29G, 27A) for his career to rank 16th in school history. Klein caps his career with the co-Offensive Player of the Year nod after winning the A-10's Rookie of the Year Award in 2018.
 
Suarez, the ASUN Defensive Player of the Year last season while playing for Central Arkansas, contributes on both sides of the ball for the Billikens. He is a starter in every game and leads the Bills in minutes played from his center back position, helping SLU to four shutouts on the year. He has five goals on the season, including game-winners at Creighton and at Dayton.
 
Buendia is back on the All-Conference first team after landing there during the 2020 season. He is a key contributor to the Billikens' defensive effort that yielded just seven goals in regular-season A-10 play. Buendia scored the game-winning goal against La Salle and had the game-winning assist at Fordham. The health management major was voted to the All-Academic team for the first time.
 
Coppola, who has appeared in all 16 games, is second on the Billikens in scoring with 11 points (5G, 1A). Floriani is a key contributor on the defense that yielded just seven goals during league play. He also is tied for second on the Bills with four assists.