Full MVC Release
PEORIA, Ill. --- Five members of the University of Evansville men's soccer team were honored with all-Missouri Valley Conference honors, it was announced at the conference's tournament banquet on Thursday night in Peoria, Ill.
Senior midfielder Ian McGrath and sophomore defender Simon Waever were named first-team all-MVC, while senior defender Chris Shuck, junior midfielder Zac Blaydes, and sophomore midfielder Jesse Stafford-Lacey all received honorable mention all-MVC honors.
"For the second year in a row we have had five members of our program recognized for their outstanding play throughout the regular season," said Aces head coach Marshall Ray. " I am very proud of Chris and Ian for everything they have given to this program. Both of them have been instrumental in our turn around. Zac, Simon, Jesse and the rest of our underclassmen are our future and will continue to push us forward in the coming years."
For the fourth-straight season, McGrath earned all-MVC honors, this year receiving his second-straight first-team all-MVC honor. The New Lenox, Illinois native leads the way for the Aces with 12 goals and six assists on the season, recording six game-winning goals, including Wednesday night's game-winner in the 58th minute that advanced the Aces to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament. In his career, McGrath has scored 26 goals, putting him in a tie for ninth all-time at Evansville.
In his second season with Evansville, Waever earns first-team all-MVC honors after being named all-freshman and receiving honorable mention all-MVC recognition in 2016. Waever has scored a goal and record an assist this season, while anchoring an
Aces backline that has amassed a 1.70 goals-against average.
An all-freshman honoree in 2015 and a second-team all-MVC selection in 2016, Blayeds captures honorable mention honors for a second-straight season. The Midway, Kentucky native has scored twice in 2017 and added six assists in his junior campaign. Blaydes has recorded 21 assists in his Aces career, just two shy of entering the all-time top 10 at Evansville.
Stafford-Lacey picks up his first all-MVC award after scoring twice and tallying three assists in his sophomore campaign. A native of Banna, Ireland, Stafford-Lacey has amassed 10 total assists in his career, third-best on the team behind Blaydes and McGrath.
For the first time in his four-year career, Shuck earns all-MVC honors with an honorable mention nod. The Shelbyville, Kentucky native leads the team in career minutes played with 5,330 minutes spent on the pitch and in games started with 62. This season, Shuck has recorded a career-best three assists, while taking 15 shots and putting six on-goal.
The Aces resume MVC Tournament action on Friday at 3 p.m. when they take on Missouri State in the MVC Tournament semifinals at Shea Stadium in Peoria, Ill.
