Sophomore Kelvin Omondi has been named the Sooner Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year while junior Adam Holt was named Goalkeeper of the Year as the John Brown University men's soccer team landed five first-team selections and two second-team selections in the year-end awards, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Omondi, who was also simultaneously named the SAC Offensive Player of the year, landed on the first team as a result of leading all SAC strikers in goals (9), points (22) and shots per game (5.2) in conference play. He also tied for first in SAC game-winner, posting the deciding goals against Bacone (Okla.), Science and Arts (Okla.) and Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas).
The striker's biggest performance of the conference season was a two-goal, one-assist performance which occurred twice, against Mid-America Christian (Okla.) and St. Gregory's (Okla.) on Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, respectively.
Joining Omondi on the first team list was sophomore Conner Haney, sophomore Ryan Williams, sophomore Giovani Bejarano and junior Adam Holt.
Haney earned first-team honors for the first time in his career after finishing the SAC season tied for eighth in points with four goals and three assists (11 points). He started out conference play with a goal in the first two games and also added a three-point match (one goal, one assist) in JBU's 5-0 win over Science & Arts on Oct. 15.
Williams returns to the All-SAC list after earning second-team honors last season. This year, Williams continued to direct the Golden Eagle midfield and dished out an SAC-best seven helpers in nine league games, all while scoring big goals. Williams netted a trio of goals, but two of which proved to be game-winners and he totaled up 13 points in conference action.
Two members of the JBU back line returned to the first-team ballot as Bejarano and Holt landed the honors in consecutive seasons.
The duo, along with senior Hazeley Pyle, who earned second-team honors, all combined to post the best defense in the Sooner Athletic. The Golden Eagles allowed just 33 shots on goal over nine games as Holt saved 27 of them to earn a .818 save percentage but an even more impressive .640 goals-against average. The defense combined to post six shutouts in seven victories.
Bejarano also turned in an incredible offensive performance this season, notching four goals in league play. Early in the season, he struck for arguable one of the biggest goals of the season, the game-tying tally in JBU's early-season 1-1 draw with now No.1 Oklahoma Wesleyan. OKWU has not tied or lost a game since its trip to Alumni Field.
Holt also becomes the first keeper in program history to not only win one SAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors, but also back-to-back nominations. Holt easily led all SAC keepers in save percentage, goals-against and total shutouts.
Junior Collin Smith was also named to the second team, marking consecutive seasons for Smith on the All-Conference ballots. Last season, Smith was a first-team selection. This year, Smith notched two goals and two assists, including the game-winner against Texas Wesleyan on Oct. 27. Alongside Williams, Smith aids in directing the SAC's most potent offense, which generated 3.55 goals scored per game.
Among the superlatives was junior Steve Teshima, who was named the SAC's Newcomer of the Year. After his first season in the Blue and Gold, the transfer finished the conference season with a goal and five assists (7 points) and serves as an important offensive option up the flanks for the Golden Eagles.
Sports on 11/09/2016