MACOMB, Ill. - Head coach Dr. Eric Johnson and the Leatherneck men's soccer program recently announced the 2011 team awards at their annual awards banquet. All team members received a championship ring for winning both the regular season and tournament titles.

"We had a well attended banquet highlighted by the achievements of our senior class and the presentation of our championship rings," said head coach Dr. Eric Johnson.

The recipients were Andy Ryan, who was named 'Most Valuable Player', Ebenezer Mengistu, who was tabbed 'Most Improved Player', Aaron Appel, who was honored as 'Newcomer of the Year', and Kooten Johnson and Andy Ryan, who were awarded the 'Mr. Leatherneck Award'.

The Mr. Leatherneck Award goes to the player(s) who most exemplifies the qualities of selflessness, leadership, a  positive attitude, dedication, service to others, respect, and integrity.

This past season Western's MVP and Mr. Leatherneck Andy Ryan, who was one of the team's captains and was named the 2011-12 Western Illinois 'Male Student-Athlete of the Year', started 20 of the Leathernecks 21 matches in net. He finished the season with an overall record of 13-6-1 while recording 95 saves, a .826 save percentage, and 0.98 goals per game average.

In the Summit League, Ryan finished the season ranked first in save percentage (.826), goals against average (.982), shutouts (9), shutout percentage (0.45), and saves (95), while ranking third in saves per game (4.75). Ryan also ranked in the top-60 of four national categories, including: ninth in total saves (95),17th in save percentage (.826), ), 36th in saves per game (4.75), and 56th in goal against average (.982).

He was named to the 2011 All-Summit League First Team, tabbed Summit League 'Defensive Player of the Week' for four times throughout the season, and named SoccerSavings.com/Chicagoland Soccer News 'Men's College Player of the Week' on October 3rd. Ryan was also named to both the Fall Academic All-Summit League Team and Fall Academic All-Summit League Distinguished Scholars Team.

Ebenezer Mengistu, who was awarded the team's 'Most Improved Player' award, appeared in 12 games for Western this past season, starting three of them. He tallied five shots, two of which were on goal, assisted on Western's lone goal in the shutout victory over Valparaiso (Oct. 2), and scored Western's second goal in the team's 2-0 shutout victory over Evansville (Nov. 1), the first and only of his career. Mengistu was also named to both the Fall Academic All-Summit League Team and Fall Academic All-Summit League Distinguished Scholars Team.

Aaron Appel, who was honored as 'Newcomer of the Year', started 20 of Western's 21 games and recorded 11 shots, four of which were on goal. Finished the season with one goal and one assist. Earned the team's first assist of the season on Hilary Esangbedo's goal versus Drake (Aug. 29), and recorded his lone goal of the season in the Leathernecks 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17).

Kooten Johnson, who was also named Mr. Leatherneck and was a team captain this past season, played in 17 games for Western, starting 16 of them. Johnson tallied 14 shots, six on goal, and netted his lone goal of 2011 in Western's 4-0 win over DePaul (Sept. 17), while anchoring the Leathernecks' tough defense.

2011 LEATHERNECK ACCOMPLISHMENTS

LEAGUE TITLES AND NCAA COLLEGE CUP APPEARANCES: This past season, the Leathernecks captured the 2011 Summit League Regular Season Championship and earned the top-seed in the tournament after finishing league play with a 4-2 record. Western went on to earn back-to-back victories in the Summit League Tournament against Oakland and Oral Roberts, capturing the 2011 league tournament crown. Sophomore defenseman Charlie Bales scored the game-winner on a penalty kick in the finals to lift Western to their fifth tournament title in the past eight seasons.

Western's fifth Summit League Tournament Crown also earned the team its fifth appearance to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Northern Illinois, 2-0. The Leathernecks made their first appearance in the NCAA postseason in 2004, and fell to Northwestern, 4-1. The team made its second appearance in 2005 against Notre Dame and lost, 2-0, and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third-straight season in 2006, and suffered a lose to Illinois-Chicago, 3-0. Prior to this past season, the Leathernecks' most recent trip to the NCAA College Cup was in 2009 where they were defeated by Drake, 2-1.

REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS: The Western Illinois Fighting Leatherneck men's soccer team earned a 3-2 double-overtime victory on the road over the UMKC Kangaroos on Oct. 29th to capture the 2011 Summit League regular season title. The regular season crown marks the fourth of its kind since the Leathernecks joined the Summit League (1995, 2000, 2006 and 2011); the last three under the
guidance of head coach Dr. Eric Johnson.

IN THE NATION: The Leathernecks finished the season ranked in the top-60 of five team categories, including: 16th in save percentage (.831), 32nd in shutout percentage (.43), 32nd in saves per game (4.90), 36th in winning percentage (.643), and 52nd in goals against average (.980).

SCHOLAR ALL-NORTH/CENTRAL REGION TEAM: 

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced their 2011 NCAA Scholar All-North/Central Region Teams, and two Leathernecks were named to the first-team. Seniors Andy Ryan (#01) and Mariano Leo (#11) were each named to the first team.

The National Soccer  Coaches Association of America announced their 2011 NCAA All-Midwest Teams, and two Leathernecks

earned recognition. Sophomore defenseman Charlie Bales (#2) was named to the All-Midwest Second Team, and senior midfielder Alexis Dominguez (#7) was named to the third team.

ALL-LEAGUE HONORS: For the fourth time in his career, head coach Dr. Eric Johnson was named Summit League 'Coach of the Year'. Johnson previously was named 'Coach of the Year' in 1998, 2000 and 2006. Sophomore Charlie Bales became the second Leatherneck ever to be named Summit League 'Defensive  Player of the Year', and fifth Leatherneck to ever be named Summit League 'Player of the Year', offensive or defensive. Along with Bales, senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan and senior midfielder Alexis Dominguez were named All-Summit League First Team, while senior midfielder Mariano Leo, junior forward Nathan Bruinsma, and junior midfielder Husref Jupic earned second team honors (Release HERE). 

SUMMIT LEAGUE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: The Leathernecks had four players named to the 2011 Summit League All-Tournament Team. Along with tournament MVP Charlie Bales, midfielders Alexis Dominguez, Mariano Leo and Husref Jupic all earned honors (Release HERE).

SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Charlie Bales, Daniel Lewis and Andy Ryan each earned the Western Illinois 'Scholar Athlete of the Week' award this past season. Bales was named athlete of the week on Nov. 14th after scoring the team's game-winning goal in the Summit League tournament finals, Lewis earned the honor on Sept. 6th after scoring the game-winning goal in Western's 1-0 victory over Marquette on Sept. 4th, and Ryan earned the award on Sept. 26th after recording his, at the time, Summit League leading third shutout this 2011 in Western's 1-0 win over Western Michigan on Sept. 25th.

SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior midfielder Husref Jupic was named Summit League 'Offensive Player of the Week' for the first time in his career on October 31st for his performance the week prior (release HERE). Senior goalkeeper Andy Ryan is the only other Leatherneck to have earned 'Player of the Week' honors, doing so on September 6th, September 19th, October 3rd, and October 24th...Releases on Ryan earning the awards can be found HERE (Sept. 6), HERE (Sept. 19), HERE (Oct. 3), and HERE (Oct. 24).

CHICAGOLAND PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior midfielder Husref Jupic was named SoccerSavings.com/Chicagoland Soccer News 'Men's College Player of the Week' on Nov. 2nd for his performance the week prior (Release HERE). Senior captain and goalkeeper Andy Ryan also earned the honor October 3rd for his performance the week prior (Release HERE). The Soccer News Net College 'Player of the Week' Awards are selected by the editors of Soccer News Net's six regional news web sites and are sponsored by SoccerSavings.com.

TOP DRAWER SOCCER: A trio of Leatherneck men's soccer players were named to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Summit League midseason 'Top 20' list eariler this past season (Release HERE). The three Western players recognized were senior captain and goalkeeper Andy Ryan who was ranked sixth (first among goalkeepers), junior midfielder Husref Jupic who was ranked 10th, and senior midfielder Mariano Leo was ranked 18th.

SENIORS: October 22nd's home match against Oakland was the last home match for nine Leatherneck soccer players, including: goalkeeper Andy Ryan, defenders Kooten Johnson, Kevin Ross, Adrian Loyocano and Antonio Katic, and midfielders Daniel Lewis, Matt Lewandowski, Mariano Leo and Alexis Dominguez.