---Braden Bishop, the 2006 GLVC Freshman of the Year, has 25 career goals.

By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

INDIANAPOLIS – The Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team just fell short of sweeping the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year awards Thursday, as Braden Bishop and Andy Bacon were named the league’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.

NKU’s John Basalyga was voted by his peers as the GLVC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Bishop has keyed the NKU offense in 2007, leading the Norse with 13 goals overall, and eight against GLVC competition. His 20 points in league games ranked him third among GLVC scorers, earning him a spot on the All-GLVC first team. Three separate times the sophomore was named the GLVC Player of the Week, a feat matched by only one other player in GLVC history, and never by an NKU performer.

The Centerville, Ohio, native leads the Norse with five game-winning goals, including three in GLVC play. Against Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, the No. 2 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament, Bishop converted a penalty kick in the 108th minute to seal a victory, and at Indianapolis he put home the only marker in a very physical battle.

Bacon has anchored a defensive unit that will go down as one of the most dominating in NKU history, with three of the team’s back four earning All-GLVC honors. Covering every deep threat the Norse have seen this year, Bacon has answered the task again and again, being named to the All-GLVC team for the third time in his four seasons, this time as a first-team honoree.

Dan Impellizzeri joins Bacon on the All-GLVC first team, while sophomore Eric Ashworth was named to the conference’s second team.

---Andy Bacon earned the league's first ever Defensive Player of the Year award and made his first appearance on the All-GLVC first team.

The Norse have already broken their single-season wins record, previously at 16, and won more GLVC games (13) than any other team in history. The team has allowed just six goals on the season, three of those to conference foes, and leads the nation in goals allowed average (0.33) and shutout percentage (0.72). Their 13 shutouts also set a school record.

Senior Tony Capurro made his third appearance among the GLVC elite with a first-team selection after twice being named to the league's second-team. Capurro, a 2006 second-team All-American, is one of the strongest two-way players in the conference, not only shoring up the Norse defense, but powering the attack with precise free kicks and frustrating footwork in the open field.

Freshman Steven Beattie also got in the action, earning a spot on the All-GLVC third team with a four-goal and nine-point conference season, despite being out three games due to injury. Overall, the Dublin, Ireland, native mustered seven goals and three assists in his freshman campaign and gave the offense second and third options when combined with the talented play of the NKU forwards.

Basalyga’s second Coach of the Year award in as many years comes in a season of unparalleled success in NKU men’s soccer history. Over the two years in which he has been honored he has amassed a record of 34-3-3 and NKU’s first ever Great Lakes Region championship. Since beginning his tenure at Highland Heights in 2003, Basalyga has continually seen his team improve, both in win totals and in the national rankings.

On Sunday, his Norse (18-0 overall, 13-0 GLVC) will open the GLVC Tournament against No. 8 seed Wisconsin-Parkside on the quest for their first conference title since 1995. Kick-off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

---Junior Eric Ashworth (14) makes his first appearance on the All-GLVC team.

2007 Men's Soccer All-GLVC Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Braden Bishop, Northern Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Year: Andy Bacon, Northern Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Tyler Kincaid, Saint Joseph’s
Coach of the Year: John Basalyga, Northern Kentucky

ALL-GLVC FIRST TEAM
Forwards
Dustin Attarian, Fr., SIU Edwardsville
Braden Bishop, So., Northern Kentucky
Tom Heinemann, So., Rockhurst
Midfielders
Tony Capurro, Sr., Northern Kentucky
Nestor Hernandez, So., Lewis
Randy Roy, So., SIU Edwardsville
Backs
Andy Bacon, Sr., Northern Kentucky
Zach Bauer, Jr., SIU Edwardsville
Dan Impellizzeri, Sr., Northern Kentucky
Cody Reinberg, Sr., Drury
Goalkeeper
Greg Crook, Sr., SIU Edwardsville

ALL-GLVC SECOND TEAM
Forwards
Marco Cherisma, Jr., Drury
Bojan Jovicic, Sr., UW-Parkside
Haggai Leboo, So., Rockhurst
Cory Mastey, Jr., Lewis

---Senior Dan Impellizzeri (3) made the All-GLVC first team as a defender, while freshman Steven Beattie (5) was a third-team selection.

Midfielders
Brian Fishback, Jr., Indianapolis
Adam Johnson, Sr., Rockhurst
Brad Niemann, Sr., Quincy
Backs
Eric Ashworth, Jr., Northern Kentucky
Branko (Bane) Isailovic, Jr., Quincy
Spencer Martens, Jr., Rockhurst
Goalkeepers
Anthony Szymel, Jr., Lewis

ALL-GLVC THIRD TEAM
Forwards
Steven Beattie, Fr., Northern Kentucky
Jayme Groark, So., Quincy
Tyler Kincaid, Fr., Saint Joseph’s
Midfielders
Mardoche Beya, Fr., Lewis
Kevin Bielicki, So., SIU Edwardsville
John Higgins, Sr., Indianapolis
Peter Higgins, Fr., Drury
Ross Hopkins, Fr., Bellarmine
Backs
Mike Jones, So., SIU Edwardsville
Tyree Robinson, Jr., Southern Indiana
Tyler Schaefering, Jr., Bellarmine
Goalkeepers
Justin Welply, Jr., Bellarmine