KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Just days after completing a historic regular season, the Central Methodist men's soccer program nearly swept the conference awards, announced on Monday by the conference office, and placed eight players on All-Conference teams.
For the second straight season, Adrian Gutierrez (SR/Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain) was named Heart Offensive Player of the Year. But this year, Gutierrez added a new trophy to his mantle: Conference Player of the Year. Gutierrez has scored eight goals and recorded 10 assists so far this season, leading a vaunted Central Methodist attack that has netted 72 goals this season. He also earned All-Heart honors for the third time, including his second straight First-Team recognition.
Wilfried Nyamsi (SR/Paris, France) was named Heart Defensive Player of the Year after an incredible season in which he has been an anchor for a stout Central Methodist defense. That defense has only conceded eight goals this season. Nyamsi, who was named NAIA National Defensive Player of the Week earlier this season, was also named First-Team All-Heart for the first time.
Bursting onto the scene in his first semester on campus, Daniel Hernandez (FR/Bogota, Colombia) earned Heart Freshman of the Year after a stellar offensive campaign that saw him rack up 17 goals, which leads the Heart and ranks 13th nationally, and 12 assists, which also leads the Heart and ranks fifth nationally. Hernandez earned back-to-back Heart Offensive Player of the Week awards earlier this season. He was also named First-Team All-Heart.
"The success these student-athletes have had thus far has been special," said head coach Alex Nichols. "When you receive these awards, you know you have a complete team and that these awards are representative of all our guys."
Rounding out the First-Team All-Heart honorees for the Eagles were Vince Gelei (JR/Dunakeszi, Hungary) and Santiago Sierra (SR/Bogota, Colombia). Gelei, named Third-Team All-Heart in 2017, earned the recognition after starting all 18 games and only allowing eight goals, good for a .460 goals against average (GAA). Gelei's GAA leads the Heart and is third nationally.
But a good defense is more than just a goalkeeper, and Sierra played a large role in keeping trouble away from the net. Sierra earned his second straight First-Team All-Heart recognition with a season that saw him up his production offensively, scoring six goals and notching six assists.
Rodrigo Paredes (SO/Asuncion, Paraguay), in his first season as an Eagle, earned Second-Team All-Heart recognition. As a midfielder, Paredes played an integral role on the team, both offensively and defensively. He scored five goals and registered three assists this season.
Junior Kazeem (JR/London, England) and Connor Blitz (SR/Columbia, Mo.) both earned Third-Team All-Heart, rounding out the All-Conference honors for the Eagles. In his fourth and final season as an Eagle, Blitz earned All-Conference recognition for the first time after scoring two goals and aiding the aforementioned stout Central Methodist defense. Kazeem, who also earned Third-Team All-Heart in 2017, ranked third on the team with eight goals, while also notching four assists.
Also, receiving conference recognition Coach Nichols earned his first Coach of the Year award. Nichols led the Eagles to a 15-1-2 regular season record, including 9-1-1 finish in Heart play, clinching the first Heart of America Athletic Conference Champions title, and a berth to the 2018 NAIA Men's Soccer National Tournament. Postseason play is set to begin on Saturday, where the Eagles will host the winner of Grand View (Iowa) and Culver-Stockton (Mo.).
"To have the success we've had, everyone has had to contribute and every player has been vital for us in many ways," said Nichols. "At the end of the day, there is one team award that means the most to all of our guys and that trophy is handed out in December."
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