Six Bears Earn All-Conference Recognition

All-Conference Teams List

MACON, Ga. – Six Mercer men's soccer players dotted the Atlantic Sun All-Conference selections released by the conference office on Friday morning.

Senior Ian Cameron and sophomores Josh Shutter, Brett Petricek and Richie Edmondson all received second team honors while freshman Taylor Krek and Ryan King were voted onto the All-Freshman team.

Mercer's six overall selections were the second-most in the conference, trailing only FGCU who had seven players receive All-Conference recognition.

Stetson junior striker Fredrik Brustad won the A-Sun Player of the Year, FGCU junior goalkeeper Adam Glick won the A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year, while ETSU forward Itode Fubara and head coach Scott Calabrese won the A-Sun Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively.  

For Cameron, the selection marks his third A-Sun postseason award after earning spots in the All-Freshman team in 2007 and the All-Conference first team in 2009. The Glasgow, Scotland native is once again spearheading the Mercer offense this season, ranking first on the team in points (14) and goals (5). Cameron, the lone senior on the 2010 edition of the Bears, helped the Bears defeat their first ranked team in program history when he scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over then No. 29 ranked UAB on Oct. 6.

Shutter, who transferred to Mercer by way of Clemson University, has fit into head coach Brad Ruzzo's defensive scheme beautifully in his first year in Macon. The 6-2 center back is one of only two Bears to appear and start in all 16 games this season, tallying five points on two goals and one assist. Shutter was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 20 after scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over CAA power Georgia State.

Petricek picked up his second postseason award after being named to the All-Freshman team last season. The Woodridge, Ill. product had another stellar season in net, ranking among the A-Sun leaders in multiple statistical categories including. Petricek finished the regular season among the top four in the conference in GAA (4th), save percentage (3rd) and shutouts (T-2nd). He was named A-Sun Defensive Player of the Week twice this season, one of only two goalie's in the A-Sun to win the award multiple times. Petricek's six shutouts this season has him tied for the most clean slates in a single-season in Mercer program history.    

Edmondson earned his first All-Conference nod after impressing opposing coaches with his strength and speed at the striker position. The Montego Bay, Jamaica native finished second on the squad with nine points on four goals and one assist. Edmondson showed a knack for coming through in the clutch for the Orange and Black this season, registering two game-winning goals against A-Sun foes USC Upstate and Lipscomb.

Krek was one of many freshmen who stepped in right away for coach Ruzzo and made significant contributions on the pitch. Known for his high work rate and hardnosed approach, Krek manned the Bears midfield all season, starting and appearing in all 16 games in 2010. The Norcross, Ga. product tallied five points this season on one goal and three assists.

King was another freshman who displayed extraordinary promise in his first collegiate season, using his technical ability to beat opposing defenses on a constant basis. King ranked tied for third on the team in both points (7) and goals (3). He led the team and ranked tied for second in the conference with three game-winning goals. King scored his third and final game winning goal of the season in a 1-0 overtime win at Jacksonville on Oct. 23.

Mercer returns to action on Saturday when it welcomes Jacksonville to Bear Field for the first round of the A-Sun Men's Soccer Championship. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.