MVC ANNOUNCES MEN’S SOCCER ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

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ST. LOUIS – Missouri State, Central Arkansas and Bradley each had a player earn a top individual honor. Central Arkansas sophomore forward Niklas Brodacki claimed the league’s Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year honors, while Missouri State senior defender Nick Burtenshaw earned the Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Missouri State net minder Liam Priestley claimed the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Bradley’s Younes Dayekh earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Brodacki, Burtenshaw, Priestley and Dayekh headline a list of 37 student-athletes named to the 2017 MVC All-Conference teams, selected by the coaches, and announced by the league office Thursday. The all-conference teams were recognized at an awards reception tonight in Peoria, Illinois.

Missouri State, along with Central Arkansas and Bradley, the league’s top three finishers, combined to place 20 athletes on the all-conference squads. Missouri State placed eight players on the all-conference teams, the most in the league, while Central Arkansas and Bradley each added six. Loyola and Evansville had five players on the all-conference teams, while Valparaiso added four and Drake had three honorees.

Brodacki, a two-time first-team all-MVC honoree leads the league in goals (15) and points (35) and ranks third in the conference in shots (56), while also tallying five assists. Brodacki’s total of 15 goals scored is the highest in The Valley since Creighton’s Ethan Finlay netted 15 goals during the 2010 season and his 35 points are the most in the league since Tulsa’s Ryan Pore racked up 55 points in 2004. The freshman currently ranks second nationally in goals scored and third nationally in points scored. The sophomore is UCA’s first MVC Player of the Year award winner, while claiming his second-straight MVC Offensive Player of the Year award.

Burtenshaw, a senior standout for Missouri State, has been a mainstay in the Bears lineup, starting all but one match this season. Earlier this season the defender saw a six-game shutout streak and has led the defense to one of its strongest seasons in history. The Missouri State defense has held opponents to .530 goals per game and a .416 shot on goal percentage.  MSU’s defense, led by Burtenshaw, has allowed 154 shots this season, but only given up eight goals. The squad paces the conference and is fifth in the nation in goals against average this season (.51).   The senior is Missouri State’s fourth MVC Defensive Player of the Year award winner and first since James Fawke won the award in 2013.

Priestley, a senior goalkeeper for Missouri State, currently has a .871 save percentage and totaled 54 saves for the Bears entering MVC tourney action. The senior keeper ranks as one of the top goalies in the nation this season, siting in third in shutouts (10), second in save percentage (0.871) and sixth in goals against average (0.51). Priestley holds the second lowest career goals against average in Missouri State history (.850) and has 24 career shutouts which also ranks second in school history. Earlier this season Priestley posted a six-match shutout streak and has led the defense to one of its strongest seasons in history. Priestley joins MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Alex Riggs (2010) as the only Bear to claim the honor.

Dayekh, a freshman midfielder for the Braves, is Bradley’s second leading scorer with five goals and 12 points this season. All five of his goals have given the Braves the lead and four have stood as game-winning goals this season. His four game-winners are tied for second in the MVC this season.  Dayekh is the sixth player in program history to be named MVC Freshman or Newcomer of the Year. The award was a Newcomer of the Year award from 1991-95 and Freshman of the Year from 1996-present.

Central Arkansas’ coaching staff has earned the MVC’s Coaching Staff of the Year honor, the first coaching honor for the Bears as a member of the Valley. Head coach Ross Duncan is in his fourth season at the helm, leading the Bears to an 8-10 mark this season, including a 5-3 league record which earned a second-place finish in the MVC standings.  Ross Duncan is assisted by Mitch McKay, Jordan Bates and Nick Doyle.

Missouri State was tabbed the honor of the Valley’s Fair Play Award, which is structured after the FIFA Fair Play honor. It is awarded to the Valley squad that has the fewest penalty cards during all MVC matches, as the Bears tallied just five penalty cards in regular-season league action.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Niklas Brodacki, Central Arkansas
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Niklas Brodacki, Central Arkansas
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nick Burtenshaw, Missouri State
GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR: Liam Priestley, Missouri State
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Younes Dayekh, Bradley
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Central Arkansas (Ross Duncan, Mitch McKay, Jordan Bates, Nick Doyle)
MVC FAIR PLAY AWARD: Missouri State