ANNVILLE, Pa. – On Friday morning, the Middle Atlantic Conference announced their 2022 men's soccer All-Conference honors and annual award winners. Among the student-athletes honored were seven members of the Messiah men's soccer team, including
Matt McDonald and
Jake Lent-Koop who were celebrated as the Offensive and Defensive Players of the year. It marked the fourth time since the MAC Commonwealth began honoring both the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year that the Falcons have swept the two awards, joining the 2013, 2014, and 2017 seasons.
All seven of Messiah's All-Conference honors this season came with First Team accolades. Joining McDonald and Lent-Koop on the First Team were teammates
Ben Lefever,
Luke Brautigam,
Luke Groothoff,
Grant Johnson, and
Jared Pavlovich.
Matt McDonald claimed his second-straight First Team All-Conference honor this season and added the MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year honor after a stellar season up front for Messiah. The senior forward has netted 21 goals and added six assists. A constant torn in the side of defenders, McDonald has scored in 16 games this season and netted multiple goal on five different occasions. Far and away the conference leader in points (48) and goals (21), McDonald is third in the country in goals scored, just two behind the leader. A rare combination of quickness and physicality, not many defenders are excited to see him matched up against them.
Senior forward
Ben Lefever claimed his third All-Conference honor, but first First-Team nod this season after leading the conference in assists with 11 thus far. In addition to his ability to set up his teammates, Lefever has netted nine goals on the season. He's come on late in the year with two multi-goal games against Eastern (Oct. 15) and Albright (Oct. 22). He is currently second on the team ins points with 29. A mark that ranks second in the MAC Commonwealth, only behind his teammate McDonald.
In the midfield, Messiah earned a pair of First Team All-Conference honors with
Luke Brautigam and
Luke Groothoff claiming laurels. For Groothoff the 2022 honor is the fourth of his career after claiming a Second Team nod in 2018 and First Team honors in 2019 and 2021. Brautigam matches his First Team honor from a year ago with a second one in 2022. The duo of midfielders have a wide area of impact for the Falcons, settling play, holding possession, and often pushing forward in attack. On the offensive side of the ball, Groothoff has netted six goals and added five assists for the Falcons this season while starting all 20 games. Despite missing a pair of games in the middle of the season, Brautigam has found the back of the net three times and handed our four assists.
As mentioned,
Jake Lent-Koop claimed the MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year honor after anchoring a defensive unit that has allowed just 12 goals on the season. As a team, Messiah is allowing 0.60 goals per game, the 18th lowest mark in the country and half a goal lower than anyone else in the conference. The six-foot, three-inch defender is phenomenal in the air and has showed off his attacking header on multiple set pieces this season. Despite his defensive position, Lent-Koop has connected on six goals this season, including a two-goal effort against Stevenson on Oct. 19. The First Team All-Conference honor is the second-straight such accolade for Lent-Koop.
Joining Lent-Koop with defensive honors was senior
Grant Johnson, claiming his first career All-Conference nod. Like Lent-Koop, Johnson has been stellar in his outside back position. Additionally, he has dished out seven assists this year thanks to quality feeds on corner kicks and crosses after overlapping runs. Johnson also scored a right-footed rip against Stevenson on Oct. 5 for his lone goal of the season.
Behind that quality defensive line is keeper
Jared Pavlovich, who earned his second-straight All-Conference honor this season. A year ago, Pavlovich claimed Second Team honors, but this season moved onto the First Team. Playing nearly 1,443 minutes between the pipes so far this season, Pavlovich owns a 0.56 goals against average, 16th lowest in the country. He has 20 saves to his name, including a season-high five against Lynchburg in a 2-2 draw against the Hornets on Sept. 3. His 19-0-1 record matches that of the Falcons, but his three shutouts are a result of handing off net minding duties in the second-half of runaway Messiah victories.
Messiah's seven First Team honors this year ties the 2013 team for the most First Team honors in a single season in program history.
The Falcons are set to host the Opening Weekend of the NCAA Tournament beginning tomorrow. Messiah will take on the Franciscan Barons in the First Round at 1:00 p.m. while the Williams Ephs and NYU Violets play in the other First Round game at Messiah at 3:30 p.m. The Second Round is scheduled to take play at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
