PEORIA, Ill. -- Sometimes it was difficult to tell whether University of Evansville senior soccer player Robby Lynch was most important to his team on offense or defense.  The midfielder excelled at both ends of the field, and today, Missouri Valley Conference coaches decided he was most effective on the defensive side by choosing Lynch as MVC Defensive Player of the Year.  He was honored Thursday night at the State Farm MVC Soccer Tournament Banquet in Peoria, Ill., site of this week's tournament.

In addition to Lynch making the All-MVC first team, Evansville's other all-conference selections included three on the second team: junior defenders Blake Schneider and Aaron Henkle, and senior forward Tyler Kincaid.  Making the Honorable Mention team were senior forward Mike Luttrull, junior midfielder Tad Kreamalmeyer and junior defender Jarrett Robbins.  Chosen for the All-Freshman Team were forward Philip Manga and midfielder Alex Kapsalis.

For Lynch, the Defensive Player of the Year award and first team all-MVC selection capped a career that included four consecutive seasons on the all-conference team.  He was a second team all-MVC selection as both a freshman and sophomore, and first team as a junior and senior.  He was one of 30 national finalists earlier this fall for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, given annually to those who excel in their sport, academically, and in community involvement.  Lynch and Luttrull are currently finalists for the ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.

In addition to his defensive skills, Lynch also finished as Evansville's second leading scorer with five goals and three assists for 13 points.  He totaled 18 goals and 17 assists for 53 points in his career, fifth among active players in the Missouri Valley Conference.


ALL-MVC FIRST TEAM
Alex Riggs...Missouri State...GK...Sr.
Gerard Barbero...Missouri State...D...Jr.
Nick Foster... Drake... D...Sr.
Kyle Deremer...Creighton...D...Sr.
Greg Jordan...Creighton...MF...So.
Jose Gomez...Creighton...MF...So.
Dion Acoff...Creighton...MF...So.
Robby Lynch...Evansville...MF...Sr.
Bryan Gaul...Bradley...F...Jr.
Ethan Finlay...Creighton...F...Jr.
Chris Anzalone...SIUE...F...Sr.

SECOND TEAM
Brian Holt...Creighton...GK...Jr.
Tyler Polak...Creighton...D...Fr.
Blake Schneider...Evansville...D...Jr.
Mike Jones...SIUE...D...Sr.
Aaron Henkle...Evansville...D...Jr.
Aodhan Quinn...Bradley...MF...Fr.
Michael Thaden...Drake...MF... Jr.
Sergio Castillo... Creighton...MF...Sr.
Randy Roy...SIUE...MF...Sr.
Tyler Kincaid...Evansville...F...Sr.
Heath Melugin...Missouri State...F...Jr.
Thomas Ostrander...Drake...F...Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION:
Jordan Kadlec...Drake...GK
Sean Molony...Eastern Illinois...GK
 Zac Burns...Central Ark...D
Jarrett Robbins...Evansville...D
Charlie Schwartz... Drake...MF
Tad Kreamalmeyer...Evansville...MF
Joseph Cervantes...Central Ark....F
Alex Harrison...Eastern Illinois...F
Mike Luttrull...Evansville... F
Jordan Hoffman...Missouri State...MF
Benny Jeffery...SIUE...D

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Brian Billings...Bradley...GK
Keegan Ballee...Bradley...D
Garrett Crall ...Drake...D
Nick Marshall...Drake...D
Tyler Polak...Creighton...D
Max Duncan...Drake...MF
Alex Kapsalis...Evansville...MF
Aodhan Quinn...Bradley...MF
Dan Williams...Missouri State...MF
Liam Kelly...Creighton...F
Philip Manga...Evansville...F