YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Young Harris College men's soccer sophomore Ondrej Kopecký has been named the Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year, following an outstanding season anchoring the Mountain Lions' back line.

Kopecky has been a key presence for Young Harris, leading the team with 1,457 minutes played and serving as one of just two players to surpass 1,400 minutes this season. Starting all 17 matches thus far, he helped guide a defensive unit that allowed just 1.0 goal per game while also making an impact on the offensive end. Kopecky finished second on the team with six goals and five assists for 17 points. Four of his six goals were game-winners, tying him for the Conference Carolinas lead in that category.

In addition to Defensive Player of the Year, Kopecký also earned First-Team All-Conference Defender honors. 

This honor highlights Kopecký's impact on the field as he helped lead the Mountain Lions to a Southwest Division championship and the No. 1 seed in the Conference Carolinas tournament.