KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Missouri Valley Conference announced its yearly honors Tuesday morning. For the 2024 season, senior goalkeeper Colin Welsh highlighted the Brown and Gold's accolades with an MVC Goalkeeper of the Year title and an All-MVC First Team nod.  Teammates Owen Smith and Carson Hodgson also garnered All-MVC First Team honors, while redshirt freshman Christian Shannon was recognized on the MVC All-Freshman Team.

Colin Welsh

This year the goalkeeper from Overland Park, Kansas, saw an exceptional campaign protecting WMU's net, securing a career-high 0.93 goals against average, 10 wins, 70 saves, and four shutouts. In 15 of 19 games during the 2024 campaign, Welsh and the Brown and Gold allowed one goal or fewer. This past Sunday, Welsh saw a season-high eight saves in WMU's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Quarterfinal match against the University of Evansville. 

Owen Smith

Smith, the NCAA's assist king, had a season for the ages, posting four goals and 15 assists. His 15 assists marked a program record for WMU. Smith currently leads the NCAA in assists and assists per game with 0.79. During the 2024 season, the midfielder tallied at least two assists in four games and is currently on a three-game assist streak.

Carson Hodgson

Hodgson continues to add accolades to his 2024 resume with his All-MVC First Team nod. The Midfielder from Macomb, Michigan, scored six goals and added five assists on the season for a total of 17 points.  Earlier this season onOctober 22, Hodgson tallied six points en route to becoming the third Bronco since 2009 to score a hat trick in WMU's 4-1 road win over Detroit Mercy. 

This year in the preseason, Hodgson earned a TopDrawerSoccer #40 ranking and was named to the United Soccer Coaches Midfielders to Watch List. Later, to conclude the month of October, Hodgson claimed NCAA Digital Men's Player of the Week honors on October 23, and was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Team of the Week on October 29. 

Christian Shannon

In his debut season with the Brown and Gold, Shannon earned 18 starts and made 19 appearances during the 2024 campaign. Right out the gate, Shannon made an immediate impact for WMU: In WMU's 3-1 season-opening win over #12 Vermont on August 22, Shannon scored his first career goal. Five days later, the defender claimed TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week accolades on August 27. 

During the season, Shannon helped WMU earn a 0.93 goals against average on the year, and his efforts would not go unnoticed: At the halfway point of the season, Shannon was named the 13th best freshman in the nation in TopDrawerSoccer's Mid-Season Freshman Rankings. 

For all things WMU men's soccer, make sure to follow the team on Instagram, @wmu_menssoccer, X, @WMUMensSoccer, and Facebook, @wmumenssoccer.