Transy’s Brian Williams and Zach Lange Sweep Men’s Soccer MVPs

GREENWOOD, IN – Transylvania’s Brian Williams (Lexington, Ky./Tates Creek) and Zach Lange (Florence, Ky./St. Henry) have been named the 2010 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Most Valuable Players on offense and defense respectively.  The duo helped guide the Pioneers to their sixth HCAC men’s soccer championship with an 8-0-1 conference mark and a 16-2-2 overall record.

Williams has led the Transylvania offense this season, leading the conference in goals and points.  The senior forward has scored 11 goals and added three assists to lead the Pioneers offense that ranks first in the HCAC in scoring with 47 goals this season.  In conference matches, Williams led the league with six goals and ranked second with 13 points scored in nine matches.

Lange has anchored the HCAC’s top defensive unit this season as the Pioneers allowed only four goals in league play.  The senior back was the star of the Pioneers defense that allowed only 16 goals in 20 matches this season, including a conference best 10 shutouts.  Lange currently ranks second on the squad with five goals and five assists this season.

Transylvania defeated Anderson 2-0 in the conference tournament championship to earn a bid into the NCAA Division III tournament.  The Pioneers will face Lynchburg (Va.) in the opening round.

Transylvania’s Kyle Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) and Anderson’s Austin Howard (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee) have been selected as the 2010 HCAC Co-Freshmen of the Year.  Smith, a midfielder for the Pioneers, ranks third on the team with five goals and 14 points scored this season.  Howard turned in a solid first season in net for the Ravens, leading the HCAC in goals against average (0.42), save percentage (.920), and shutouts (5) during HCAC play. For the season, Howard led the conference in all three categories as well.

Transylvania’s Brandon Bowman has been named the 2010 HCAC Coach of the Year, earning his fourth honor as the head man for the Pioneers.  He has led Transylvania to a 16-2-2 record this season, including the school’s sixth trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Thirteen players join Williams, Lange, Smith, and Howard as All-HCAC First Team members. Those players include Anderson’s Austin Fridley (So., Anderson, Ind.), Steven Brown (Jr., Richmond, Ind.), and Matt Robinson (Jr., McHenry, Ill.), Earlham’s Ameer Yusuf (Fr., Ramallah, Palestine) and Jimmy Carter (So., Pacific Palisades, Calif.), Franklin’s Grant Krevda (Sr., Carmel, Ind.) and Cody Graman (Sr., Columbus, Ind.), Manchester’s Dian Radev (So., Burgas, Bulgaria) and Corey Brueggeman (Jr., Loveland, Ohio), Rose-Hulman’s Paul Bouagnon (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) and Clint Vatterrodt (Jr., Bloomington, Ill.), and Transylvania’s Peter Mikhail (Jr., Park Hills, Ky.) and Kevin Jones (Sr., Middletown, Ohio).

All-HCAC Team

Second Team All-HCAC