By Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, The OG, sports

CAPPING OFF A senior season in which he led the area with 30 goals, Michael Belmont has been named a first-team member of The News-Gazette's 2006 All-Area Boys Soccer Team. The paper announced its selections today.

Only 12 players received first-team honors. Belmont was the only Uni player on either the first or second all-area teams. Senior forward Martin Granick, senior midfielder/defender Jeremy Pillow, and junior midfielder Jake Seeley received all-area honorable mention.

Al Renner, who graduated in June, was a News-Gazette first-team selection last year.

Besides his 30 goals, Belmont finished the season with nine assists, tied for sixth in the area. His combined 39 points led all area scorers. Belmont ranks third in the Uni record books for career goals (57) and goals in a season. He is second in career assists (31).

Seeley and Granick finished second and third in the area in assists, with 13 and 12, respectively. Granick scored 17 goals, Seeley 10, and Pillow eight.

Belmont, Granick, Pillow, and Seeley were among the players who made this year's Illinek squad the most successful in school history. Under head coach Bill DeJarnette, the team set a season record for wins, going 17-4-1. In another school first, the team advanced to a sectional championship game, just one victory away from qualifying for the eight-team Class A state tournament.

Over the last four seasons, the Illineks compiled a varsity record of 55-23-7.

In addition to The News-Gazette, the East Central Illinois Conference has also given out honors for the 2006 season. Belmont, Granick, and Pillow were named to the ECIC first team. Joining Seeley as an ECIC honorable-mention choice were seniors Daniel Ito and Scott Sapp.

Uni won the ECIC title with a 4-0 conference record.

UNI'S 2006 NEWS-GAZETTE BOYS SOCCER HONOREES

Michael Belmont, No. 21 (click photo to enlarge)

Martin Granick, No. 14 (click photo to enlarge)

Jeremy Pillow, No. 13 (click photo to enlarge)

Jake Seeley, No. 2 (click photo to enlarge)