KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Penn State Harrisburg men's soccer players Michael Albers and Jose Palomeque earned United Soccer Coaches (USC) Division III Scholar All-Region honors earlier this month.  

The seniors were named to the USC Scholar All-East Region Second Team for their success in the classroom and between the lines this fall. They are the first players in program history to earn scholar all-region accolades.  

Palomeque's latest honor comes after he was pegged a USC All-Region Second-Team selection and a United East All-Conference First-Teamer earlier this year. The graduate student netted eight goals, including a game-winner in a victory over Neumann in September, and added 10 assists to tally 26 total points on the season. Thanks to his efforts, the Quito, Ecuador native was named the United East Offensive Player of the Week in early October. The MBA student holds a cumulative GPA of 3.84. 

Albers secured his most-recent accolade after leading a stout defensive unit that surrendered just 0.54 goals per game and posted 10 shutouts in 2021. The graduate student buried four goals, including a pair of game-winners, and added four helpers to tally a dozen total points this fall. The Southampton, Pa. native was tabbed a USC All-Region Third-Team selection and was named to the United East All-Conference First Team after earning conference defensive player of the week honors on two occasions (9/6, 10/25). The accounting major holds a 3.67 cumulative GPA. 

The efforts of both players helped lead the Lions to their first-ever national ranking, as well as their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the program's second straight conference championship this fall.   

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook using the handle @pshbgathletics.