Men’s Soccer Hands Out 2011 Team Awards

MACON, Ga. – Head coach Brad Ruzzo announced the winners of the 2011 Mercer Men’s Soccer team awards on Wednesday afternoon.

The awards signify the efforts of specific players and their contributions to yet another solid season under Ruzzo’s guidance. The awards are determined based on a team-wide vote.

The Bears finished 2011 with a 9-8-3 record, giving Mercer its first pair of back-to-back seasons with a winning record since the 2001-02 campaigns.

Despite a disappointing 2-1 loss to eventual champion Florida Gulf Coast in the semi-finals of the 2011 Atlantic Sun Men’s Soccer Championship, the Orange and Black had five players receive A-Sun postseason honors, trailing only FGCU who had seven players receive All-Conference recognition. Juniors Joey Heavner and Will Betts reeled in two spots on the inaugural A-Sun Men's Soccer Academic All-Conference team, with Betts taking home Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. Lastly, Heavner was recognized for his play in the 2011 A-Sun Tournament when he was voted onto the All-Tournament Team.

Seven awards were given out to the following players:

Most Improved Player- Sophomore Cole Mitchell

Co-Newcomer of the Year- Freshman Carl-Oscar Andersson and sophomore Ehjayson Henry

Bears Award (awarded to the ideal teammate on and off the field) – Junior Will Betts

Offensive MVP- Freshman Carl-Oscar Andersson

Defensive MVP- Freshman Greg Ranjitsingh

Team MVP- Junior Joey Heavner

Coaches Award (hand picked by the coaching staff based on the player’s leadership, loyalty, commitment and work ethic to the team) - Senior Phil Thoren   

With only three seniors departing, Thoren, Ryan Young and Matt Brazer, and nine starters coming back to Macon for 2012, the future looks bright as the Bears begin to prepare for their spring season.