Horizon League Announces Spring 2021 #HLMSOC All-League Awards
INDIANAPOLIS – Oakland midfielder Noah Jensen was named the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, while teammate Dylan Borczak earned Offensive Player of the Year and UIC’s Jacob Graiber was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row as the Horizon League announced the spring 2021 #HLMSOC All-League awards on Thursday, as voted upon by the League’s 11 head coaches. In addition, Danny Bermingham of Northern Kentucky was named Goalkeeper of the Year, Milwaukee’s Logan Farrington claimed Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year went to NKU’s Stu Riddle.
Jensen becomes the first Oakland player to earn Player of the Year honors since the program joined the HL in 2013. The senior led the country in assists with 14 helpers and averaged 1.56 assists per contest, also best in the NCAA. He posted three assists in three different matches and recorded at least one point in every match this season. Jensen finished the season with a League-best 22 points, the third most in the nation, as he also added four goals putting him in the top-10 in the Horizon League.
Borczak is just the second Oakland player to claim Offensive Player of the Year honors, joining Austin Ricci in 2015. The Detroit, Mich. native finished behind Jensen in points per game (2.00) and also finished second in the HL in goals (7) and goals per contest (0.78). He posted two multi-goal games this season including a hat trick against RMU where he also added an assist. The senior also added four assists on the season, ranking him inside the top-5 in the HL.
Graiber becomes the fourth player in #HLMSOC history to claim back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors and is the first UIC player to accomplish the feat. The redshirt senior defender started in every match this season and guided a UIC backline to four shutouts and a 0.76 goals-against average, second best in the League. In addition, the Flames only allowed multiple goals in two matches and committed the League’s fewest fouls. Graiber also added one goal on the offensive side.
Bermingham joins Jim Barkei as the only Northern Kentucky players to ever be named Goalkeeper of the Year and was tied during #HLMSOC play for the most shutouts with four, posting a shutout in half of NKU’s matches. The junior holds a League-best 0.72 goals-against average and allowed just six goals in eight matches. On the season, the Houston, Texas native finished with 31 saves and a .838 save percentage.
The last time a Milwaukee player earned Freshman of the year was 2016 with Evan Conway, but Farrington breaks the streak this season as he finished his freshman campaign with five goals and 12 points, both ranking in the top-10 in the HL. The Racine, Wis. native started in all 10 matches for the Panthers and posted a five-point match against IUPUI with two goals and an assist.
NKU head coach Stu Riddle earns his first Coach of the Year honor after leading the Norse to their first Horizon League regular season title with an overall record of 7-1. Northern Kentucky earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship for the first time since joining the HL in 2015 when it had its best finish in the League prior to this season with the No. 3 seed.
The Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship kicks off on Sunday, April 11, with semifinal contests as top seed Northern Kentucky welcomes No. 4 seed Wright State, while No. 2 UIC hosts No. 3 Milwaukee. The championship contest will commence on Saturday, April 17 at the site of the highest-remaining seed.
Every match of the Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship will be streamed live on ESPN+.
For complete championship information go to the #HLMSOC Championship Central page, here.
Spring 2021 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year: Noah Jensen, MF, Oakland
Offensive Player of the Year: Dylan Borczak, F, Oakland
Defensive Player of the Year: Jacob Graiber, D, UIC
Goalkeeper of the Year: Danny Bermingham, GK, Northern Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Logan Farrington, F, Milwaukee
Coach of the Year: Stu Riddle, Northern Kentucky
All-Horizon League First Team
Player, School, Pos.
Logan Farrington, Milwaukee, F
Dylan Bufton, Northern Kentucky, F
Dylan Borczak, Oakland, F
Charlie Braithwaite, Oakland, F
Paolo Gratton, Milwaukee, MF
Noah Jensen, Oakland, MF
Jose Perez Flores, UIC, MF
Jake Kelderman, Milwaukee, D
Justin Earle, Northern Kentucky, D
Jacob Graiber, UIC, D
Danny Bermingham, Northern Kentucky, GK
All-Horizon League Second Team
Player, School, Pos.
Bojan Kolevski, Cleveland State, F
Nkusuwila Zulu, UIC, F
Joe Kouadio, Wright State, F
Jannis Schmidt, Cleveland State, MF
Ryan Godding, Northern Kentucky, MF
Dawsun Schrum, Oakland, MF
Thomas M'Barek, Cleveland State, D
Saahb Kular, Cleveland State, D
Reid Sproat, Oakland, D
Pau Mateo Chacon, UIC, D
Sokratis Vasilas, UIC, GK
Horizon League All-Freshman Team
Player, School
Bojan Kolevski, Cleveland State
Samory Powder, Detroit Mercy
Ruben Linden, Green Bay
Logan Farrington, Milwaukee
Raul Medina, Milwaukee
Deryn Armstrong, Northern Kentucky
Roberto Burlew, Northern Kentucky
Jaiden Ramsay-Kelly, Oakland
Erik Josson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Diego Mendoza, UIC
Chris Geddis, Wright State