OMAHA, Neb. -- Bradley senior sweeper Joe Donoho (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit H.S.) today was named the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first Brave to claim the league's top honor in the 17-year history of The Valley's sponsorship of men's soccer.
Having secured a share of their third straight Valley regular-season crown, the Braves collected plenty of hardware during the State Farm MVC Tournament banquet Thursday night at Creighton's Morrison Stadium. Based on a vote of the league's seven coaches, eight Bradley players were recognized during the banquet. Donoho was joined on the 11-player All-MVC first team by senior midfielder Drew DeGurian (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley H.S.), while senior goalkeeper Mike Haynes (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap H.S.) and senior defender Stephen Brust (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey H.S.) earned second-team notice. Senior defender Teddy Anderson (Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic H.S.) and sophomore midfielder Grant Campbell (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) both earned honorable mention notice, while midfielders Rudy Garcia (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) and Paul Tracy (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley H.S.) both landed on the All-Freshman Team.
In addition to the individual player honors, Bradley captured its second straight Coaching Staff of the Year award, marking the fourth time (1996, 1998, 2006, 2007) head coach Jim DeRose has been recognized by the league. Assisted by associate head coach Brad Ruzzo and assistant coach Preston Good, DeRose guided the Braves (12-5-3, 4-0-2) to a share of their fourth MVC regular-season championship and their first-ever undefeated run through the league. Bradley joins Creighton (1992-96) and SMU (2000-02) as the only teams to win at least a share of three straight Valley crowns.
Bradley also is the winner of the Valley's Fair Play Award, which emulates the FIFA Fair Play honor and is given annually to the MVC team that has accumulated the fewest penalty cards in conference play. Bradley totalled only three yellow cards in the six league games, five fewer than second-place Creighton.
Playing in front of Haynes, Donoho, Brust and Anderson have spear-headed a defensive effort that led The Valley by allowing just five goals and a 0.83 goals against average during the six-game round-robin league schedule. Overall, Bradley boasts a 0.92 goals against average and six shutouts in its 20 games this season.
As the sweeper, Donoho has provided the last line of defense for the Braves and he leads all Valley participants by playing 1,854 minutes. A second-year transfer from Rutgers, the 6-foot-3 Donoho also has been a vital part of Bradley's offensive attack, moving forward for most all restarts in the offensive half of the field. He finished second in The Valley by scoring four goals in the six league games and his four game-winning goals overall, including the winner in Saturday's regular-season championship clincher versus Western Kentucky, also rank second in the MVC. Donoho currently is tied for second on the team with six goals and 14 points this season.
Due to the tragic events involving the team immediately prior to the start of the season, Bradley was forced to make several lineup changes heading into the 2007 season. Two of those changes involved moving DeGurian into an attacking role, while dropping Anderson into the backfield. A member of the 2004 MVC All-Freshman Team who had played primarily in a defensive midfield position during his first three years, DeGurian responded to the move by leading the Braves in scoring with seven goals and five assists, despite missing three midseason games with a staph infection.
An honorable mention all-conference pick in his first year as a starter in 2006, Haynes turned in another stellar year between the pipes in 2007. A starter in all 20 games this year, Haynes led The Valley with a 0.78 goals against average and a 0.875 save percentage in the six league games. Stuck behind former Bradley All-American Chris Dunsheath in his first three years, Haynes (0.98) actually enters the State Farm MVC Tournament as the school's only keeper with a career goals against average less than 1.00.
Campbell, who was a second-team All-MVC pick during his freshman season in 2006, continues to perform as one of the most versatile players in the league. Working both ends of the field, Campbell has contributed six points on two goals and two assists, while also working back to assist in Bradley's defensive effort.
Garcia and Tracy both played in all 20 games during the regular-season, primarily in attacking positions. Both players scored one goal. Tracy added two assists and Garcia had one helper.
In addition to Bradley's awards haul, two other specialty awards were handed out Thursday night: Creighton senior goalkeeper Matt Allen was voted The Valley's Defensive Player of the Year and Evansville midfielder Robby Lynch was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Year.
Having secured its fourth overall Valley regular season championship, Bradley will begin pursuit of its first-ever State Farm MVC Tournament championship Friday when the top-seeded Braves take on No. 5 seed Eastern Illinois in the 7:30 p.m. semifinal at Morrison Stadium. Bradley's game will follow the 5 p.m. semifinal between No. 2 seed Creighton and No. 3 seed Evansville and the tournament championship will be contested Sunday afternoon.
