Bradley University Athletics

Smidtslund, Conneh Earn MVC Scholar-Athlete Plaudits

The pair of Braves were among the 15 men's soccer student-athletes recognized by The Valley Wednesday

Jill Catus

MVC Scholar-Athlete Announcement

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Soccer 4/21/2021 10:06:00 AM

ST. LOUIS – A pair of Bradley Soccer student-athletes were recognized for their combined performance on the pitch and in the classroom Wednesday with the announcement of the 2020-21 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete Teams. Sophomore midfielder Rasmus Smidtslund (Helsinki, Finland) earned first-team recognition, while senior midfielder Mikey Conneh (Sheffield, Yorkshire, England) was a honorable mention selection, according to a vote of the league's five men's soccer sports information directors released Wednesday morning.

One of three MVC Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete honorees boasting a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average, Smidtslund is completing his second year at Bradley as a double major in business: management & leadership and business law. He has qualified for the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first three semesters, as well as the 2020 MVC Honor Roll. On the field, Smidtslund has started 27 of Bradley's 30 games the last two seasons. He contributed two assists from his defensive position as a freshman in 2019 and led the Braves with three goals in 11 games as a central midfielder this past season.

A 2019 transfer from Penn State, Conneh sports a 3.80 cumulative grade point average as a sports communication major. In addition to earning the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2020, Conneh has qualified for the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first four semesters with the Braves and the MVC Honor Roll in both 2019 and 2020. He appeared in 23 games during the last two seasons at Bradley, including all 11 games as a reserve midfielder during the 2020-21 campaign.

The criteria for the MVC Scholar-Athlete Teams parallels the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). Also, students must have participated in at least 75 percent of the regular-season matches or played in the league championship tournament. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Mikey Conneh: M; 5' 9"; Senior; Sheffield Wednesday FC

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund: D; 5' 11"; Sophomore; Laajasalon Pallo and Tikkurilan Palloseura

Players Mentioned

#10 Mikey Conneh
: 5' 9"; Senior; Sheffield Wednesday FC
: M

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Laajasalon Pallo and Tikkurilan Palloseura
: D

Smidtslund, Conneh Earn MVC Scholar-Athlete Plaudits

The pair of Braves were among the 15 men's soccer student-athletes recognized by The Valley Wednesday

Players Mentioned

#10 Mikey Conneh

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund

Players Mentioned

#10 Mikey Conneh

#13 Rasmus Smidtslund