Editor's Note: The Marist Athletics Department is continuing to highlight its Senior Awards finalists. From April 20-May 15, a feature story will be presented on each finalist for Sportsperson of the Year.
Female Sportsperson Finalists: Megan Fergus (Volleyball) | Sydney Ford (Women's Rowing) | Alana Gilmer (Women's Basketball) |  Denise Grohn (Women's Cross Country/Track) | Rebekah Hand (Women's Basketball) | Samantha Mehalick (Women's Lacrosse) | Anais Mathes (Water Polo) | Ali Milam (Softball) | Juliet Nowak (Swimming & Diving) | Claire Oberdorf (Softball/Women's Basketball) | Alexa Svensson (Women's Soccer)
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Male Sportsperson Finalists: Raislan Aiken (Swimming & Diving) | Matthew Blaszczyk (Men's Rowing)
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Previous finalists:Â Female Strength & Conditioning (April 14)Â |Â Male Strength & Conditioning (April 15)Â |Â Female Pizzani (April 16)Â |Â Male Pizzani (April 17)
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POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Samad Bounthong has been named a finalist for the Sportsperson of the Year Award.
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For the past four seasons, Bounthong has consistently raised the Red Foxes' level of play. He has been the picture of consistency, having started 71 of 72 games in his career. The Seattle-native only missed two total games, and was excellent from the first moment he stepped onto the field.
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Despite early success and a MAAC All-Rookie nod as a freshman, Bounthong continued to work as hard as anyone, always looking to improve. His drive helped shape the team's culture for years to come, as the Red Foxes earned two MAAC Semifinal berths in his junior and senior seasons. Bounthong helped elevate Marist to one of the top names in the conference, and was recognized as a top player with back-to-back All-MAAC First Team honors in 2018 and 2019.
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Bounthong contributed from multiple positions in his career, signed a professional contract with the New York Red Bulls II, and was one of the main reasons that Marist men's soccer has the winning culture it sees today.
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Growing up in Seattle, Bounthong started out his soccer career with the Seattle Sounders Academy, until eventually being cut from the u-16 team and moving to New Jersey. It was there that he made the u-18 Red Bulls squad, and came into his own as a player.
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Bounthong excelled with the Red Bulls, eventually earning an offer to play at Marist College to begin in the fall of 2016. He played and started in 17 games that season, tallying a goal, five assists and a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Bounthong had gotten a taste of success, but never stopped trying to improve.
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His sophomore year he scored four goals and handed out two assists, including the game-winner against Niagara on October 18, 2017. The midfielder had cemented himself as one of the top offensive threats on the team, and still knew he had more to give.
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Bounthong led the Red Foxes in scoring as a junior with six goals while adding three assists, and was named United Soccer Coaches All-East Third Team for his efforts. He came up clutch multiple times, including the deciding goal against Manhattan on October 17, 2018 as well as a trio of assists in tight games. He was a big part of Marist's first MAAC Semifinal run since 2011, and continued that as a senior.
The Red Foxes were deeper than ever in 2019, and Bounthong drove the team to excellence once again. With three goals and an assist, the midfielder aided the program once again as they reached the MAAC Semifinals for the second consecutive year and battled hard against the best in the conference. Bounthong was recognized with his another First Team All-MAAC honor, and even earned a contract to play professional soccer with NYRB II.
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"A game that I'll always think of will be from my junior year playing at Monmouth," began Bounthong. "I scored a goal late in the game to force overtime, and Allen [Gavilanes] scored the game-winner."
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On October 10, 2018, Marist traveled to West Long Branch, NJ for what seemed like an easy game against the Hawks, who had lost four straight to begin MAAC play. The Red Foxes entered the matchup at 3-1, tied for first place in the conference.
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However, it was Monmouth who took a 1-0 lead in the 29
th minute as Hawk goalkeeper Sean Murray had a career day. Marist outshot Monmouth 15-3 in the second half, and Bounthong finally netted the equalizer in the 84
th minute to send the game to overtime.
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"It was one of the most anxious and fun games I've ever played. I remember hearing people saying not to shoot, but I did anyways and I was surprised it went in."
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The Red Foxes went on to control both overtime periods and completely stifle the Hawks' offense, as Gavilanes scored to win the game in the 101
st minute. He and Bounthong came up clutch to turn what would have been a surprising upset into a hard-fought win, which allowed Marist to keep their standing at the top of the conference.
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"During preseason my freshman year, we had a thunderstorm in the middle of practice and had to go inside for an hour. During that time, we all took turns telling funny and embarrassing stories of ourselves, and it was then that I knew I was part of a good family. "
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The men's soccer program is a close-knit team that opens every fall season with winning seasons and success on the field. 2019 marked the program's best home record in two decades, as the Red Foxes went 7-2. Bounthong and his teammates played hard in cold, wind and rain and stuck together no matter the results.
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"My senior year we had another thunderstorm that delayed training, and we did the same thing once again. It made me realize how lucky I was to be part of this program for 4 years, and how much I was going to miss it. "
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Though his career as a Red Fox has come to a close,
Samad Bounthong's years of excellence will not be forgotten. The midfielder was a key factor in Marist men's soccer's strongest era in recent years, and that stretch of play will persist thanks to the culture he helped create. Bounthong's soccer career will continue as he heads into the professional world, and it is clear that he will keep growing as he always has in the sport he loves.
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