CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced its 2016 men's soccer postseason awards today. All six head coaches voted on their choices for All-MAC First and Second Team, Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and the Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year.
Akron senior midfielder Adam Najem was voted as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year. Najem, who started in all 18 of Akron's matches this season, led the Zips in points (14), shots (43) and finished in second place in assists (5). Najem is the 12
th MAC Men's Soccer Player of the Year to come out of Akron. In addition to being Player of the Year, he is also an All-MAC First Team selectee for the fourth consecutive year.
Joining Najem is fellow Akron teammate, Jonathan Lewis, as the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year. Lewis has appeared in all 18 games for the Zips, including 16 starts. He's recorded two goals, including one game-winning goal, nine assists and 13 points in his first collegiate season. Lewis' nine assists led the MAC this season. This is the third season Freshman of the Year has been recognized as an award, it was formerly Newcomer of the Year, and Lewis is the first Akron men's soccer player to be named MAC Freshman of the Year.
Bowling Green head coach Eric Nichols has been named the 2016 Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year. The Falcons come into the MAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed, the best finish since the 2002 season. Nichols becomes only the second head coach in Bowling Green history to win this award, as Mel Mahler was named Coach of the Year twice for the Falcons (1996, 2002). Bowling Green, picked to finish fifth in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, finished the regular season as the only MAC team to not lose in conference play.
The All-MAC First Team is highlighted by Buffalo senior forward, Russell Cicerone. Cicerone led the conference in points (34), points per game (2.00), goals (13), goals per game (0.76), game-winning goals (4), shots (75) and shots per game (4.41). Also representing Buffalo on the First Team is defender David Enstrom. Bowling Green freshman goalkeeper Anthony Mwembia was voted onto the All-MAC First Team, along with fellow Falcon Pat Flynn. Mwembia led the MAC in saves (64), save percentage (.842) and goals against average (0.66). Akron has three athletes on the First Team, while West Virginia and Western Michigan each have two.
The 2016 All-MAC Second Team is comprised of 14 players instead of 11, due to ties. Ben Lundt (Akron) and Drew Shepherd (Western Michigan) each tied for the All-MAC Second Team goalkeeper slot. Akron leads the charge on the Second Team, as the Zips are represented by Sam Gainford, Nick Hinds, Stuart Holthusen, Jonathan Lewis and Ben Lundt. The Falcons and Broncos each have three athletes on the Second Team, while the Mountaineers have two. Nick Forrester is the lone Buffalo Bull on the 2016 All-MAC Second Team.
The 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament will begin Friday at the University of Akron. No. 2 Bowling Green will face No. 3 Buffalo in the first semifinals match, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The top-seeded Akron Zips will take on No. 4 Wester Michigan at 7:00 p.m. The winners of the two semifinal games will meet in the championship match, which will be played on Sunday, November 13 at 1:00 p.m. For more about the 2016 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament,
click here.
First Team:
Pau Belana, Midfielder, Akron
Adam Najem, Midfielder, Akron
Brad Ruhaak, Defender, Akron
Pat Flynn, Forward, Bowling Green
Anthony Mwembia, Goalkeeper, Bowling Green
Russell Cicerone, Forward, Buffalo
David Enstrom, Defender, Buffalo
Jad Arslan, Midfielder, West Virginia
Joey Piatczyc, Midfielder, West Virginia
Zach Bock, Defender, Western Michigan
Brandon Bye, Forward, Western Michigan
Second Team:
Sam Gainford, Forward, Akron
Nick Hinds, Defender, Akron
Stuart Holthusen, Forward, Akron
Jonathan Lewis, Forward, Akron
Ben Lundt, Goalkeeper, Akron
Tate Robertson, Midfielder, Bowling Green
Jacob Roth, Defender, Bowling Green
Joe Sullivan, Midfielder, Bowling Green
Nick Forrester, Defender, Buffalo
Jack Elliot, Defender, West Virginia
Felix Angerer, Forward, West Virginia
Edu Jimenez, Midfielder, Western Michigan
Diego Lopez, Midfielder, Western Michigan
Drew Shepherd, Goalkeeper, Western Michigan
Player of the Year:
Adam Najem, Midfielder, Akron
Freshman of the Year:
Jonathan Lewis, Forward, Akron
Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year:
Eric Nichols, Bowling Green
