Clarksville, Ark.-Six University of the Ozarks men's soccer players were honored with American Southwest Conference awards, it was announced on Wednesday after a vote of the league's 14 head coaches.
Senior defender Aaron Brueckner and freshman forward Scott Janders earned spots on the All-ASC First Team. Janders was additionally named ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year. Senior forward Dylan Evans and senior midfielders Philip Johnson and Brandon VanCleave were named to the All-ASC Second Team. Senior midfielder Shaun Renfro was named to the All-ASC Honorable Mention Team.
Brueckner, a 6-foot, 175-pound native of Allen, Texas, started in all 20 matches and played the most minutes on the team. Brueckner spearheaded a defensive unit that recorded four shutouts and helped the team to a ten match unbeaten streak during the season. Brueckner also contributed one goal and three assists. A team captain this season, Brueckner ends his career as a two-time All-Conference player. He was named to the ASC All-Tournament this season.
Janders, a 5-foot-10, 145-pound native of Keller, Texas, tied for seventh in the ASC in points (19), tied for fourth in goals (9) and tied for third in game-winning goals (4). Janders led the team in game-winning goals and was tied for the team lead in goals. He ranked second on the team in points and third in shots (33). During a crucial eight match stretch against conference opponents, Janders scored eight goals, including all four of his game-winners. He was named ASC Player of the Week after scoring the game-winner against Howard Payne and scoring a goal in an upset of nationally-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor. He had a two-goal performance against Louisiana College. He was the only freshman on the First or Second All-Conference Team.
Evans, a 5-foot-9, 145-pound native of Richardson, Texas, tied for seventh in the ASC in points (19) and tied for fifth in assists (5). Evans was tied for second on the team in points and goals. He took 42 shots, second-most on the team and was third in assists. He had two game-winning goals during the year. He had a two-goal performance against East Texas Baptist and scored all but one of his goals in conference play. He ends his career tied for eighth at Ozarks in career points (56) and is seventh in career goals (21).
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 145-pound native of Plano, Texas, tied for second on the team in goals (7) while finishing fourth in points (16). He took 28 shots in 19 matches and collected two game-winning goals. He totaled two assists and had the key game-winner against nationally-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor. All seven of his goals came in different matches.
VanCleave, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound, native of Collierville, Tennessee, was among the most dangerous midfielders in the league, finishing second in the ASC in points (28), assists (10), assists per game (.53), third in points per game (1.47), fourth in goals (9) and seventh in goals per game (.47). He led the team in all of the aforementioned categories and was the team-leader in shots (46). He also led the team in penalty kicks, making all three of his attempts. He scored a pair of goals against Mississippi College in the playoffs and had two assists against both McMurry University and East Texas Baptist University. He had a season-high six shots against Concordia University Texas. He was named to the ASC All-Tournament Team after a dominating performance in two matches. He is a three-time All-Conference performer. In three seasons, VanCleave ends his career ranked eighth at Ozarks in career goals (19) and career shots (131). He is tied for seventh in career assists (18) and tied for eighth in career points (56).
Renfro, a 5-foot-8, 145-pound Carrollton, Texas, product tied for fourth in the ASC in assists (6). A team captain this season, Renfro scored two goals and took 23 shots in 15 matches. He had a goal and an assist against East Texas Baptist University, and recorded two assists against Mississippi College in the playoffs. He ends his career at Ozarks ranked fourth in career assists (26) and seventh in career points (58) and career shots (133). He was named to the NSCAA All-Region Team last season and is a two-time All-Conference player.
First-year head coach John Cossaboon took the Eagles (12-5-3, 8-3-2) to the playoffs, their tenth straight appearances while posting their tenth straight winning season, in 2009.
Complete list of All-Conference Players: http://ascsports.org/news/2009/11/10/MSOC_1110094205.aspx
Topics: Athletics