KANSAS CITY, Mo. ---- The No. 12 nationally ranked Central Methodist men's soccer team was recognized by the Heart of America Athletic Conference Monday afternoon with several conference awards. The team earned seven All-Conference spots, as well as the Offensive Player of the Year in Adrian Gutierrez and the Newcomer of the Year in Santiago Sierra.
Gutierrez has tallied five goals and eight assists this season, assisting a high-powered Central Methodist offense that has scored 53 goals. He was also named to the first team All-Conference.
Sierra is in his second year on campus, but first out on the field. He earned Heart Defender of the week during the season once, and has been essential in the back line for the Eagles. The defense has allowed just eight goals in 17 games, and is currently ranked number one in the NAIA with ten shutouts this season. Sierra was also named to the first team All-Conference.
Garnering first team All-Conference honors along with Sierra and Gutierrez was Leonardo Ferri. Ferri has scored 12 goals with three assists, and was named the Heart Offensive Player of the Week with a four goal week.
Earning second team All-Conference honors was Ricardo Olaya. He has scored once and has four assists on the season, but the senior midfielder has been instrumental in the midfield for the Eagles. Olaya has helped both offensively and defensively in an effort to out-posses many of the teams the Eagles have faced.
Three additional members were named to the third team All-Conference with goalkeeper Vince Gelei, midfielder Colin Horn and forward Junior Kazeem. Gelei has been solid in goal all year for the Eagles since arriving on campus. He has only allowed seven goals in his 15 games, and has amassed 43 saves. Horn has scored one goal with two assists, but along with Olaya, helps streamline the offensive attack by controlling possession. Kazeem has totaled seven goals and two assists playing up top.
The Eagles will return to action Friday, November 3, when they host No. 6 seed Grand View University at home in the first round of the Heart Tournament. The game has been scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
