Chris Schuler is the ninth player in CU history to be a 3-time first-team selection.
DES MOINES, Iowa –Dion Acoff of the Creighton men’s soccer team has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, one of nine Bluejays to earn all-conference recognition Thursday night at the conference pre-tournament banquet.
Senior co-captains Chris Schuler and Seth Sinovic were joined by sophomore forward Ethan Finlay on the first team. Juniors Kyle Deremer and Josh Moran, along with sophomore goalkeeper Brian Holt were tabbed to the second team, while senior forward Jeff Thayer was voted honorable mention by the league coaches. Acoff was joined by Brent Kallman on the MVC All-Freshman Team.
Acoff leads all MVC freshmen with four assists this season, including two helpers on game-winning goals. His assist against No. 7 UCLA helped give the Jays a 1-0 victory over the Bruins. A member of the United States U-18 Men’s National Team, Acoff scored his only goal of the season at Evansville (Oct. 17). The attacking midfielder from Upland, Calif., is the second straight Bluejay to bring home Freshman of the Year honors, following Holt’s recognition last year.
Schuler becomes the ninth player in school history to be named first-team all-MVC three times – the first since David Wagenfuhr (2001-03). The All-American defender has guided the Bluejays back line to much success again this season, leading the MVC with a 0.62 goals against average. CU has posted 37 shutouts over the last four years with Schuler anchoring the defense from his center back position.
Sinovic is a repeat first-team honoree as he has again combined stellar defensive play with a knack for attacking when needed. He ranks second on the team with three goals, four assists and 10 points, all coming from his left back slot. The Jays have posted eight shutouts with Sinovic leading the way in the back.
Finlay leads the team with seven goals and 17 points, while topping the MVC with five game-winning scores. The forward now has scored 13 career goals, nine of which have been game-winners, after he also topped the league with four game-winners last year. Five of his seven goals came in MVC play, tying for the Valley lead.
Deremer marks the third of four members of the CU defense honored. His play in the back earned him MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping shut out seventh-ranked UCLA on Halloween. CU ranks 11th in the NCAA in goals against average and 12th in the nation in shutout percentage, thanks in part to the Omaha native’s play in the back.
A high school teammate of Deremer at Millard North, Moran earns MVC honors in his first season as a Bluejay. The junior earned NAIA All-America notice at Hastings (Neb.) College, before transferring to CU this year. The midfielder leads the team with five assists, all of which came inside of MVC play. His five helpers in Valley action tied for the league-lead.
Holt has continued to log impressive numbers in net for Creighton this year. Last year’s MVC Freshman of the Year didn’t suffer the sophomore slump this season, posting a 7-3-5 mark with eight shutouts and a 0.63 goals against average. His career GAA of 0.57 is currrently tops in both the MVC and CU record books, while the Creighton Prep product has been in net for 20 shutouts in 34 career starts.
Thayer is another local product who has earned multiple MVC accolades in his career. The forward has five points, on two goals and an assist this year to push his career totals to 14 goals, 13 assists and 41 points. Last year, the Omaha Millard West graduate was tabbed to the MVC first-team.
Kallman was a candidate for a redshirt early in the season before the Jays lost Greg Jordan for the season after two games. The rookie defensive midfielder debuted in CU’s third match of the season and has started seven of the 12 matches he’s played in.
Creighton (7-3-5, 4-2-4 MVC) opens play in the State Farm MVC Tournament at Drake (11-6-2, 6-3-1 MVC) tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Follow the tournament here.
