Matthews Named GLVC Defensive Player of The Year
         The Great Lakes Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Year John Matthews (Edwardsville), along with six other members of The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's soccer team, received All-Conference honors.
         Matthews, a senior midfielder, previously was named All-GLVC in 2004 and 2005. SIUE finished the regular season with an 11-3-3 record and the No. 1 seed for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.
         "It is only appropriate that he (Matthews) gets recognized in this manner. He has been a great player for us for four years," said SIUE men's soccer coach Ed Huneke.
         The next opportunity to see the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year along with the Cougars' six other All-GLVC selections is scheduled Saturday in Edwardsville at Korte Stadium against the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a kick-off time of 6:30 p.m.
         The three other Cougars who accompanied Matthews on the GLVC first team are Mike Banner (Washington, D.C.), Zach Bauer (St. Charles, Mo.), and Mike Zaegel (St. Louis, Mo.). Banner led the Cougars in points this season with 15, which included four goals and seven assists. Bauer and Zaegel are both defensive backs for SIUE, who along with Matthews helped the team to a 0.53 goals against average.
         Second team selections for the Cougars included Victor Pacheco (Sao Luis, Brazil) who along with his seven assists so far this season broke the school's all time assist record with his 30th on Oct. 11. The other two selections for the Cougars were Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles, Mo.), last year's GLVC Player of the Year, who scored four goals and had four assists for the team this season, and freshman Randy Roy (St. Louis, Mo.) who was another key factor for the Cougars’ defense this season.
         "I have always known the senior class was special, and it is only fitting that others are recognized it as well. The recognition of newcomers Bauer and Roy speaks well for our future too," said Huneke.
         Huneke added that he was very pleased that so many of the players were recognized by the GLVC.
         UW-Parkside's Bojan Jovicic was named the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year. Braden Bishop, of Northern Kentucky, was tabbed the Freshman of the Year. Northern Kentucky's John Basalyga was honored as the Coach of the Year.

2006 All-GLVC Selections
Offensive Player of the Year: Bojan Jovicic, UW-Parkside
Defensive Player of the Year: John Matthews, SIU Edwardsville
Freshman of the Year: Braden Bishop, Northern Kentucky
Coach of the Year: John Basalyga, Northern Kentucky

ALL-GLVC FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Braden Bishop, Fr., Northern Kentucky - Freshman of the Year
Bojan Jovicic, Jr., UW-Parkside - Offensive Player of the Year
Cory Mastey, So., Lewis
Midfielders
Mike Banner, Sr., SIU Edwardsville
Phil Glaser, Sr., Bellarmine
Bill Haga, Sr., UW-Parkside
John Matthews, Sr., SIU Edwardsville - Defensive Player of the Year
Backs
Zach Bauer, So., SIU Edwardsville
Greg Walasek, Sr., UW-Parkside
Mike Zaegel, Sr., SIU Edwardsville
Goalkeeper
Anthony Szymel, So., Lewis


ALL-GLVC SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Andy Held, Fr., Missouri-Rolla
Colin Huber, So., Missouri-St. Louis
Jon Walker, So., Indianapolis
Midfielders
Tony Capurro, Jr., Northern Kentucky
Victor Pacheco, Sr., SIU Edwardsville
Kevin Thibodeau, Sr., SIU Edwardsville
Backs
Andy Bacon, Jr., Northern Kentucky
Dan Impellizerri, Jr., Northern Kentucky
Randy Roy, Fr., SIU Edwardsville
Michael Ruffolo, Sr., UW-Parkside
Goalkeepers
Zach Hoette, Sr., Missouri-St. Louis

ALL-GLVC HONORABLE MENTION
Forwards
Neil Covington, Fr., Drury
Midfielders
John Higgins, Jr., Indianapolis
Anthony Marsico, Jr., Lewis
Michael Ragsdale, Sr., Rockhurst
Tony Ray, So., Northern Kentucky
Backs
Carl Baker, Jr., Rockhurst
Andy Donahoe, Sr., Kentucky Wesleyan
Derek Pelate, Sr., Missouri-Rolla
Cody Reinberg, Jr., Drury
Nenad Savic, Jr., Quincy
Brian Shepherd, Sr., Southern Indiana
Goalkeepers
Chad Becker, So., Rockhurst

                  -siue cougars-