ST. LOUIS - Bradley junior defenders Tommy Fritze and Bobby Smith both were voted to the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete First Team, according to a league-wide vote of the soccer sports information contacts announced today.

Both student-athletes earned a spot on the State Farm MVC Tournament Team after helping the Braves (11-9-3) to the championship last weekend at Shea Stadium.

After overcoming a knee injury that ended his 2009 season prematurely, Fritze was the only Brave to start all 23 games this year and he led the team in minutes played.  Although a defender, he finished the year as the team's fifth-leading scorer with eight points on three goals and two assists.  In the classroom, Fritze has earned a spot on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first four semesters, boasting a 3.60 grade point average as a health science major.

Smith also has battled through injuries, but started the season's final 20 games.  His move from the midfield to a central defender position helped key Bradley's hot finish that led to its second Valley tourney title and fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.  Although officially credited with only one assist on the season, his long throw-ins in Bradley's offensive end set up several scores throughout the season.  Smith has joined Fritze on the Bradley AD Honor Roll each of the last four semesters, sporting a 3.90 GPA as an accounting major.  He also was named to the ESPN Academic All-District V First Team earlier this month.