CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced the 2018 Men's Soccer postseason awards Thursday, Nov. 8, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Western Michigan's Ben Thornton was selected to the All-MAC First Team, while Cameron Sipple earned Second Team All-MAC honors. 

Senior defender Ben Thornton, a Second Team All-MAC honoree last season, has played and started in all but one game in 2018 while totaling eight points with four goals on the year. Thornton, a staple of the Bronco defensive unit, helped limit WMU's opponents to 4.25 shots on goal per game during conference play, which ranked first in the MAC. He was also a key piece in limiting opponents to an average of 1.06 goals per game. Thornton was named to the the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Sept. 17 after helping guide the Broncos to a 2-0 week Sept. 12-15, scoring the game-winner at Cincinnati and leading the team to a 2-0 shutout over the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 

"Ben had had another great season at center back," said head coach Chad Wiseman. "He is so dominating in the air and is tough to deal with on set pieces. Ben sets the tone game after game and is very deserving of his first team selection."
 
Team co-captain Cameron Sipple has had a breakout senior season in Brown & Gold, leading the team in scoring with 16 points off six goals and four assists. His career-best marks in each offensive category earns him his first All-MAC honor. Tied for third in the MAC with three goals during conference play, Sipple is one of three Broncos to have started in each game during the regular season, pacing the Broncos with 13 points (5g-3a) while playing every minute in all but four games, leading WMU with 1,650 minutes played. Two of Sipple's conference tallies came off penalty kicks, in which he converted two-of-two attempts, including the game winner in a 2-1 victory over Northern Illinois on senior day Oct. 27. In the MAC Quarterfinals versus NIU, Sipple registered a career-high three points with a goal and assist, guiding WMU to the MAC Semifinals. 

"Cam has been our leader all season long," Wiseman commented. "He has put together one heck of a senior campaign. Cam is a hard worker with a blue-collar mentality, which our program is built on. I'm so happy that the other MAC coaches have taken notice of his performance this year."

2018 MAC Player of the Year:
Joey Piatczyc, Midfielder, West Virginia

2018 MAC Freshman of the Year:
Nick Markanich, Midfield, Northern Illinois 

Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year:
Marlon LeBlanc, West Virginia
 
First Team All-MAC:
Skye Harter, Midfielder, Akron
David Egbo, Forward, Akron
Moe Mustafa, Defender, Bowling Green
Ebenezer Ackon, Defender, Bowling Green
Tate Robertson, Forward, Bowling Green
Kevin Rodriguez, Midfielder, Northern Illinois
Johan DePicker, Defender, SIUE
Jorge Gonzalez, Forward, SIUE
Lachlan McLean, Forward, SIUE
Ben Thornton, Defender, Western Michigan
Steven Tekesky, Goalkeeper, West Virginia
Joey Piatczyc, Midfielder, West Virginia

Second Team All-MAC
Carlo Ritaccio, Defender, Akron
Marcel Zajac, Forward, Akron
Ben Lundt, Goalkeeper, Akron
Sam Tojaga, Midfielder, Akron
Anthony Markanich, Defender, Northern Illinois
Jan Maertens, Forward, Northern Illinois
Cameron Sipple, Defender, Western Michigan 
Albert Andres Llop, Defender, West Virginia
Ryan Kellogg, Forward, West Virginia
Andres Muriel, Midfielder, West Virginia
Pascal Derwaritsch, Midfielder, West Virginia