Prior to its first Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament game, the Loyola men’s soccer team hosted an MVC awards banquet in the Damen Student Center Thursday night — and saw eight players walk away with honors.
Senior midfielder Aidan Megally was named MVC Player of the Year after scoring nine goals on the season — a mark which ranked second in the conference. First-year defender Andrew Mitchell was also named MVC Freshman of the Year.
The 2019 #MVCsoccer Player of the Year is Aidan Megally of @RamblersMSOC! pic.twitter.com/RwSkdlaA3C
— Missouri Valley Conference (@MVCsports) November 15, 2019
The 2019 #MVCsoccer Freshman of the Year is Andy Mitchell of @RamblersMSOC! pic.twitter.com/y0tLCCKo0e
— Missouri Valley Conference (@MVCsports) November 15, 2019
Megally and junior midfielder Justin Sukow were named first team All-MVC while four Ramblers — senior midfielder Giann Magno, senior defender Marius Kullmann, sophomore midfielder Billy Hency and junior midfielder Tyler Biggs — were named second team All-MVC. Graduate transfer goalkeeper Marcel Kampman received honorable mention All-MVC honors.
Loyola junior defender Christopher White was also honored with the MVC Most Courageous Award. In 2018, White was diagnosed with cancer, and the Ramblers honored White by wearing purple jerseys for a game against Northern Illinois University.
Loyola head coach Neil Jones recalled White told him he was going to be late to the team meeting that day because he was going to see his doctor for an update on his treatment. Jones said White called him that afternoon to tell him he was in remission.
“I’ve never seen anyone battle so hard to conquer something,” Jones said during the banquet. “Obviously, we all train very hard … but having to battle through something at such a young age when you’ve never even thought about that happening to you is something that was very worthy of this MVC Most Courageous Award.”
The Ramblers are the No. 2 seed in this year’s MVC Tournament and are set to take on No. 3 seed Bradley University in the MVC Tournament semifinals Nov. 15 at Loyola Soccer Park. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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