Five SIUE Men's Soccer Players Honored by NSCAA
         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - With another successful season comes more accolades for the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's soccer program.
         Five SIUE men's soccer players were named All-Great Lakes Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. John Matthews (Edwardsville) and Mike Banner (Washington, D.C.) were named first team. Zach Bauer (St. Charles, Mo.) was named to the second team. Mike Zaegel (St. Louis) and Kevin Thibodeau (St. Charles, Mo.) were honored on the third team.
         SIUE finished the 2006 season advancing to the Great Lakes Regional Championship game for the third consecutive year. The Cougars ended the season ranked No. 6 in the nation and a 15-4-3 record.
         Matthews, the Great Lakes Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Year, scored six goals and added two assists in his senior season with the Cougars. He scored the game-winning goal against Bellarmine early in the season.
         Banner, a three-time All-GLVC selection, is 26th on SIUE's all-time scoring list after scoring four goals and eight assists.
         Bauer stepped into the stingy Cougar defense without missing a beat. Recording one assist, Bauer earned first team All-GLVC honors. SIUE's defense allowed a 0.97 goals against average for the 2006 season.
         Zaegel is a two-time All-GLVC pick and earned first team honors as a senior. The Cougar defender scored in a 5-0 romp over Missouri-Rolla this past season.
         Thibodeau was the GLVC's Player of the Year and an All-American last season. He follows that up with another All-Region selection.
         Matthews and Banner will be placed on the ballot for All-American consideration.
                  -siue cougars-