INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference released its men’s and women’s soccer awards on Thursday prior to the first-ever G-MAC Soccer Championships. The men’s championship tournament starts tonight in Cedarville, Ohio as the #3 seed Trevecca Nazarene faces off against #2 seed Cedarville, while the women’s tournament will take place in Nashville starting with #3 Ursuline taking on #3 Cedarville, followed by #4 Urbana taking on top seed Trevecca Nazarene.
Coach of the Year honors go to the top seeded teams from each side, as TNU women’s head coach Brett Armstrong and Urbana’s Nick Roberts each guided their squads to undefeated conference regular-seasons. Last season, the Trojans were 8-8-3, which was the first time the program didn’t have a losing record in its brief 11 year history. In the programs 12th season this year, they established a new record, going 10-3-3 and 3-0 in the first year of G-MAC play.
For the Blue Knights, Roberts led the team to a 9-7-1 record and a perfect 3-0 in conference, while not allowing a goal in any of the three victories. Three of the seven losses came to ranked opponents (#2, #11, and #24), but more impressive was a 0-0 tie against #25 Slippery Rock and a overtime win over #22 Davis & Elkins.
The coaches also selected the 11-member First and the 11-member Second All-Conference Teams. In addition to the All-Conference Teams, the coaches have named an Offensive Player of the Year, a Defensive Player of the Year, and a Freshman of the Year.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Women’s Offensive Player of the Year
JACOBY ZIEGLER - Forward
Freshman - Cedarville University
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Offensive Player of the Year
TYLER WASON - Forward
Junior - Urbana University
Ziegler, in her first year of collegiate action and Cedarville’s first year as an active NCAA Division II school, led the conference in goals (13) scored and points (29). She guided her team to 1-1-1 record in the conference including a 2-0 win over Ursuline - the Lady Jackets semifinal opponent, and a 0-0 scoreless draw against Urbana.
Wason, who also led the conference in goals (11) and points (26), guided his team to a 9-7-1 record and a perfect 3-0 record in conference. He scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan for the first G-MAC win in conference action, and scored one of the teams two goals in a 2-0 win against Cedarville, which claimed a perfect conference regular-season for the Blue Knights.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Defensive Player of the Year
BEKAH HEADRICK - Goalkeeper
Senior - Trevecca Nazarene University
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Defensive Player of the Year
STEVE ELLIS - Defender
Senior - Cedarville University
Headrick might have had the most impressive season overall in the conference, posting a 9-3-3 record. She posted nine shutouts, seven of which were wins and also two double overtime scoreless ties. All three of her ties resulted in scoreless draws. The opponents scored only five times on her in 15 games, leading the conference in goals against and goals against average.
Ellis anchored a strong Cedarville defense that carried the team to a conference best overall record of 15-2-1 in the school’s first active NCAA year at the Division II level. He did score four times from the back on only 11 shots this season, including three game-winners - one of which was an overtime winner against future G-MAC opponent Alderson-Broaddus and another came in a 1-0 win over Roberts Wesleyan, sending the team to a perfect 7-0 start.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Freshman of the Year
JACOBY ZIEGLER - Forward
Freshman - Cedarville University
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Freshman of the Year
AARON BURT - Defender
Freshman - Urbana University
As the G-MAC Women’s Offensive Player of the Year, freshman Jacoby Ziegler was the obvious selection for the Women’s Freshman of the Year as well.
Burt came to Urbana and helped solidify a defensive unit that posted six shutout wins against a very difficult schedule. As mentioned above, Urbana had seven losses on the season with three coming to top-25 teams nationally. In the teams nine wins, they finished a perfect 3-0 in conference, took down #22 Davis & Elkins, and tied #25 Slippery Rock.
Every match of the 2012 Championship is being web-streamed for free with live stats at G-MACsports.com. Photo galleries, video, and game recaps will also be available on G-MACsports.com following the completion of the tournament. To view the streaming broadcasts, simply click the banner ad on the main page for Live Streaming, or click Live Broadcast under the multimedia tab in the main dropdown menu.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Women’s All-Conference First Team
BROOKE GANN - Trevecca Nazarene University - Forward - Sophomore
BRITTANY MAZZU - Urbana University - Forward - Junior
KAYLA VANES - Trevecca Nazarene University - Forward - Senior
JACOBY ZIEGLER - Cedarville University - Forward - Freshman
DEANNE BRADSHAW - Cedarville University - Midfield - Junior
ANNA HOFFMAN - Trevecca Nazarene University - Midfield - Freshman
ABBY PEARSON - Urbana University - Midfield - Senior
ERICA CARROLL - Trevecca Nazarene University - Defense - Junior
EMILY NIEDEMAYER - Cedarville University - Defense - Junior
KATE WORLEY - Trevecca Nazarene University - Defense - Senior
BEKAH HEADRICK - Trevecca Nazarene University - Goalkeeper - Senior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Women’s All-Conference Second Team
VANESSA CONSIGLIO - Ursuline College - Forward - Freshman
ELIESE HURLEY - Cedarville University - Forward - Sophomore
PAIGE ROWAN - Ursuline College - Forward - Sophomore
BECKY BARTOS - Trevecca Nazarene University - Midfield - Junior
ANNA FEITL - Ursuline College - Midfield - Sophomore
LANIE FOUTCH - Trevecca Nazarene University - Midfield - Junior
MORGAN ZIEGLER - Cedarville University - Midfield - Senior
CARLY GREGORY - Cedarville University - Defense - Freshman
JORDAN PONTO - Trevecca Nazarene University - Defense - Sophomore
ALIX SHANKS - Ursuline College - Defense - Senior
MEGHAN TAUCHER - Urbana University - Goalkeeper - Senior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Men’s All-Conference First Team
TYLER WASON - Urbana University - Forward - Junior
TIMMY WALLER - Cedarville University - Forward - Junior
YVES NZWANGA - Urbana University - Forward - Junior
RYAN THURMAN - Cedarville University - Midfield - Senior
CARL PEERS - Urbana University - Midfield - Junior
CONNOR INMAN - Trevecca Nazarene University - Midfield - Sophomore
DILLION KING - Cedarville University - Midfield - Junior
STEVE ELLIS - Cedarville University - Defense - Senior
AARON BURT - Urbana University - Defense - Freshman
EDWARD WILLOUGHBY - Urbana University - Defense - Senior
DARRAGH MCGINLEY - Urbana University - Goalkeeper - Senior
Great Midwest Athletic Conference: Men’s All-Conference Second Team
CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER - Cedarville University - Forward - Freshman
MATT RAINES - Trevecca Nazarene University - Forward - Sophomore
CONNOR SCOTT - Cedarville University - Forward - Sophomore
JONATHAN BASKIN - Trevecca Nazarene University - Forward - Junior
DANIEL RIGBY - Cedarville University - Midfield - Sophomore
MWALIKO AHMED - Urbana University - Midfield - Sophomore
DONNY MACIEL - Trevecca Nazarene University - Midfield - Sophomore
ETHAN SHULA - Cedarville University - Defense - Junior
AUSTIN HALSTEAD - Trevecca Nazarene University - Defense - Junior
ERIC HOOBER - Cedarville University - Defense - Junior
ETHAN DEWHURST - Cedarville University - Goalkeeper - Freshman