BAY CITY, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University Men's Soccer Team was well represented as the GLIAC announced its annual postseason all-conference awards. Senior defender Tyler Stephens earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while Roderic Green was named the league's Freshman of the Year. Head Coach Andy Wagstaff was voted as GLIAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
Stephens earned First Team All-GLIAC honors along with the top defender award. He was the main leader on the back end for the Cardinals, serving as a constant for SVSU in all 18 matches. He scored one goal and added a pair of assists from the back line as well. The Saginaw Valley defense allowed just 21 goals, an average of 1.13 per contest, and posted six shutouts throughout the season. Tyler is the third SVSU player to earn the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year distinction.
Green had a spectacular freshman campaign, stepping right in as a starting forward for a deep Cardinal squad. He ranks fifth in the league and second on the team with his seven goals, adding a pair of assists for 16 total points. Green sits sixth in the league with those 16 points. Roderic becomes the second GLIAC Freshman of the Year in program history. He was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team as well as a forward.
Wagstaff earns his second straight GLIAC Coach of the Year honor in just his second year at the helm. He guided the program to its third regular season league title and matched last season's program record with 14 regular season victories. The Cardinals were 14-3-1 for the 2016 campaign, matching the program low for losses for the second straight season. Saginaw Valley led the GLIAC with 45 goals, a .152 shot percentage, 42 assists and 141 corner kicks. The Cards are second in the league with 16.4 shot per game and 136 shots on goal. SV sits eighth nationally with 42 assists, 11th with 132 points, 12th in goals (45) and 15th in assists per game (2.33).
Matt Wilson (F), Troy Watson (MF) and Andrew Dalou (MF) joined Stephens on the league's All-GLIAC First Team.
Wilson completed his junior season as the leading point getter for the Cardinals with 13 goals and 11 assists. He also led SVSU in shots, shots on goal and game-winning goals. His five game-winning tallies was second best in the league. Wilson led the GLIAC in total points (37) and points per game (2.06). He finished this season ranked second in goals per game (.72) and fourth in shots per game (1.44).
Watson earned All-GLIAC First Team honors for the second straight season. In his second year with the Cardinals, Watson started in 17 matches. He completed his senior campaign with three goals and a trio of assists. He also placed third in game-winning goals (2), fifth in shots (29) and was sixth on the team with his nine points.
Sophomore Dalou was selected to First Team All-GLIAC at midfield. Dalou scored six goals and had five assists for 17 points in his second season as a Cardinal. He also finished third in shots on goal (15) and provided key goals during the stretch run.
Freshman Liam Reilly was selected as Second Team All-GLIAC at defense. He appeared in 17 matches for the Cardinals, where he scored one goal and chipped-in with three assists in his first season at SVSU.
Goalkeeper Connor Keane was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team. The freshman keeper ranked fourth in Goals Against Average at 1.08 and placed second in shutouts with six. He appeared in all 18 of Saginaw Valley's matches and is credited with all 14 of the Cardinal victories between the pipes.
Tobee Oyeleye earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honors for the Cardinals after scoring three goals and adding a pair of assists in his senior regular season campaign. He put 11 shots on goal and two of his three scores were of the game-winning variety.
The Cardinals claimed the 2016 GLIAC title and earned the right to host the event this weekend. SVSU opens against Lake Erie Friday (Nov. 4) with a 1:00 p.m. first kick against the Storm at Braddock Field.
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