Click here for official release
UNIVERSITY CENTER -- The No. 11 nationally-ranked SVSU Men's Soccer team had six student-athletes earn All-GLIAC recognition for their play during the 2018 regular season. The awards were announced at the annual postseason banquet, held Thursday evening at Saginaw Valley State University.
The Cardinals had four student-athletes earn First Team All-GLIAC plaudits, one earn Second Team recognition and another earn Honorable Mention accolades. Highlighting these are Omar Sinclair, who was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, and Lukas Betz, who was tabbed as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
Below are the 2018 All-GLIAC Honorees for the Cardinals...
GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year / All-GLIAC First Team Defender - Omar Sinclair
Sinclair helped anchor an SVSU defense that led the league with a 0.62 goals against average, allowing only 11 goals total this season. The Cardinals racked-up seven clean sheets in the 2018 regular season while securing the program's fourth GLIAC title and second in the past three years.
GLIAC Freshman of the Year / All-GLIAC Second Team Goalkeeper - Lukas Betz
Betz ranked first in the GLIAC with his six shutouts, 10 goals against and 0.64 goals against average while ranking second in the league with eight victories on the season. Betz helped anchor the SVSU defense while the team posted seven shutouts on the year, winning the program's fourth GLIAC championship.
All-GLIAC First Team Forward - Azaad Liadi
Liadi, a 2017 All-GLIAC Second Team honoree, led the Cardinals offensively with seven goals and 16 points, adding two helpers. His seven scores rank him fourth in the GLIAC and his 16 points are fifth. He knocked-in two game-winning goals this regular season as well.
All-GLIAC First Team Forward - Michael Hamilton
Hamilton earns First Team forward honors for the second straight season after winning the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2017. He ranks second on the team with six goals and 14 points, as he chipped-in with a pair of assists as well. He also had two game-winning goals this season for SVSU.
All-GLIAC First Team Midfielder - Michael Shaikly
Shaikly earns All-GLIAC honors for the third time in his career and was named All-GLIAC Second Team at the midfielder position last season. He scored twice and added two assists for the Cardinals while ranking third on the team in shots and second in shots on goal.
All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Defender - Wladimir Babaew
Babaew helped anchor the Cardinal defense that allowed a 0.62 goals against average with only 11 goals total this season. The Cardinals racked-up seven clean sheets in the 2018 regular season while securing the program's fourth GLIAC title and second in the past three years.
Saginaw Valley, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the latest Midwest Regional rankings and carries a 9-1-6 overall record, opens tournament play Friday (Nov. 2) versus rival Northwood University at 11:00 a.m. The single loss the team had during the regular season is a program record while it marks the first time the program has been atop the regional rankings. For full information on the 2018 GLIAC Men's Soccer Tournament, click here.