2008 All-NAC Men's Soccer Awards Defensive Player of the Year:   Mike Kapusta, Dominican University Offensive Player of the Year:   Matt Kochanowski, Dominican University Freshman of the Year:   Edwin Lagunas, Dominican University Coach of the Year:   Erick Baumann, Dominican University First Team All-NAC Piotr Sliwa, Dominican Brian Barnett, Aurora Brad Dent, Concordia Wisconsin Mike Kapusta, Dominican Jerrid Dokey, Edgewood Kevin Fitchett, Lakeland Plamen Pamukov, Dominican Justin Pedersen, Aurora Juan Carlos Saldana, Dominican Jon Waldhart, Concordia Wisconsin Chase Corricelli, Aurora Matt Kochanowski, Dominican Edwin Lagunas, Dominican John Varebrook, MSOE Second Team All-NAC Tom Anderson, Concordia Wisconsin Jim Brandon, Edgewood Jordan Engedal, MSOE Rob Ogden, Marian Edgar Albarran, Wisconsin Lutheran Mike Emma, Aurora Sergio Realegeno, Concordia Wisconsin Steve Samuel, Concordia Wisconsin Peter Xiong, Marian Andriy Apetrey, Edgewood Trevor Hess, Concordia Wisconsin Brandon Holm, Concordia Chicago Andrew Solarek, Maranatha Ryan Malo, Lakeland Honorable Mention Matt Eisold, Wisconsin Lutheran Tyler Duellman, Edgewood Christian Foote, Aurora Bryan Oliver, Maranatha Joe Westrich, MSOE Danny Kolokoski, MSOE Brett Olson, Benedictine Fernando Cervantes, Concordia Chicago Giancarlo Chavez, Benedictine All-Freshman Team Ross Soukup, Lakeland Tomasz Duda, Aurora Christian Foote, Aurora Mark Forbing, Aurora Troy Hughes, Concordia Wisconsin Pat Kelly, MSOE Jacob Mayenschein, Wisconsin Lutheran Mariusz Napiorkowski, Dominican Matt Pampuch, Edgewood Matt Pena, Marian Sergio Realegeno, Concordia Wisconsin Lionel Tovar, Dominican Edwin Lagunas, Dominican Josh Payne, MSOE Gianluca Zicchi, Concordia Chicago [detailed listing]

Northern Athletics Conference men's soccer awards announced
WAUKESHA, Wis. -- The Northern Athletics Conference has released the All-Northern Athletics Conference awards for the 2008 men's soccer season.

In addition to the four major awards (below), the awards include 14-member First and Second Teams, Honorable Mention selections, and a 14-member All-Freshman Team (formerly All-Rookie Team, and 15-member team this season due to a tie). All awards were voted on by the NAC men's soccer head coaches.

Dominican University's Mike Kapusta (Bartlett, Ill.) was named the 2008 NAC Defensive Player of the Year. The sophomore defender led the Stars' (18-2-1, 11-0 NAC) defense to a conference-leading 13 shutouts this season, including 10 versus conference opponents. Kapusta, last season's NAC Rookie of the Year, tallied 14 goals and 13 assists this season averaging 2.05 points per game, fourth best in the conference.

Dominican's Matt Kochanowski was named NAC Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive time (was Co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2007). Kochanowski (Arlington Heights, Ill.) led the conference in points per game (2.69) and goals per game (1.06) while also averaging 0.56 assists per game, which was fourth best in the NAC.

NAC Freshman of the Year (award formerly named Rookie of the Year) honors went to Dominican's Edwin Lagunas (Waukegan, Ill.), a freshman forward. Lagunas, also a First Team All-NAC selection, led the conference in assists averaging 0.67 a game. The rookie also was ninth in goals per game, and sixth in points per game (1.81).

Dominican's Erick Baumann was voted NAC Coach of the Year by his peers. Baumann's Stars earned the program's seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament by winning the 2008 NAC Tournament this past weekend. Dominican has yet to lose a conference contest as they have compiled a 29-0-1 NAC record in the first three years of the new conference.

Northern Athletics Conference, Sports Information Department, November 13, 2008.