Alex Riggs Named MVC Defensive Player of the Year

Junior goalkeeper Alex Riggs was named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the league earlier this month. Riggs has eight shutouts, a 0.69 goals against average and has allowed only 12 goals this season. He was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (Sept. 21 and Oct. 12) following the weeks he shut out Creighton.

Riggs was also named to the All-MVC first team. Joining him on the first team was senior defender Johannes Demarzi. Demarzi recorded a league-leading 10 assists this season. He is fifth in the country in assists, all while playing the back line for the Bears. On the defensive side of the ball, he led Missouri State to nine shutouts on the season and a season-low six shots allowed in Wednesday’s match.

Demarzi was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week this week and earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice earlier in the season (Sept. 21 and Oct. 19). He has either scored or assisted on 13 of the Bears 26 goals scored this season, meaning that he has contributed to more offensive goals than the team’s defense has allowed (12).

Head coach Jon Leamy and his staff were named Missouri Valley Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. Along with associate head coach Michael Seabolt and assistant coach David Stockton, Leamy led the Bears to their first regular season conference title since 1999. The Bears’ 12 wins this season are the most since the 12 victories in 2005.

Senior midfielder Kyle Windmueller was the lone Bear named to the All-MVC second team. Windmuller contributed one goal and four assists this season. His assist total is second on the team behind Demarzi’s 10. Windmueller’s goal was the game-winner over Oral Roberts on October 14.

Two Bears were recognized on the All-MVC honorable mention team, senior defender Ryan Hennessy and junior forward Paul Paradise. Hennessy scored three goals, including the game-winner at Drake (Oct. 17), and added one assist. Paradise led the Bears with five goals this season, two of which were game-winners. He also added two assists.

Missouri State also had two members on the MVC All-Freshmen squad, defender Francesco Capone and forward Eric Martin. Capone recorded one assist while helping the Bears backline in allowing an all-time regular season low 12 goals. Martin played in all 17 matches and recorded eight shots.

MVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alex Riggs, Missouri State

MVC COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Missouri State (Head Coach Jon Leamy, Associate Head Coach Michael Seabolt, Assistant Coach David Stockton)

MVC FIRST TEAM
Name School Pos.
Alex Riggs Missouri State GK
Chris Shuler Creighton D
Seth Sinovic Creighton D
Julien Edwards Drake D
Johannes Demarzi Missouri State D
Luke Gorczyca Drake M
Kevin Shrout Drake M
Robby Lynch Evansville M
Chris Cutshaw Bradley F
Ethan Finley Creighton F
Garrett Webb Drake F

MVC SECOND TEAM
Brian Holt Creighton GK
Travis English Bradley D
Calvin Clark Drake D
Kyle Deremer Creighton D
Grant Campbell Bradley M
Josh Moran Creighton M
Matt Kuhn Drake M
Richie Menjivar Evansville M
Kyle Windmueller Missouri State M
Alex Harrison Eastern Illinois F
Tom Irvin Evansville F
Mike Luttrull Evansville F

MVC HONORABLE MENTION
Phil Boerger Evansville GK
Bryan Gaul Bradley D
Justin Sass Evansville D
Ryan Hennessy Missouri State D
Jerry Maddi Eastern Illinois M
Jeff Thayer Creighton F
Paul Paradise Missouri State F

MVC ALL-FRESHMAN
Tapiwa Machinguata Bradley D
Ryan Warren Eastern Illinois D
Francesco Capone Missouri State D
Dion Acoff Creighton M
Jerry Maddi Eastern Illinois M
Brent Kallman Creighton M
Kyle Bullock Eastern Illinois F
Eric Martin Missouri State F

In 2008 the Bear’s received the following MVC recognition:
Alex Riggs (So.) were named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference 1st Team.
Johannes Demarzi (Jr.) was named All- MVC 2nd Team.
Gerard Barbero and Heath Melugin were named to the MVC All- Freshmen Team.
Alex Riggs named to the MVC All -Tournament Team.
Johannes Demarzi was also named to the MVC Scholar –Athlete Team.