The Middlebury College men’s soccer team dominated the NESCAC post-season awards, earning the league’s Player of the Year - senior keeper Brian Bush (Madison, Wis.), Rookie of the Year – Tyler Macnee (Williston, Vt.) and Coach of the Year, David Saward. Joining Bush on the first-team were seniors Allen Bourdon (Lyme, N.H.) and Corey Moffat (Berkeley, Calif.) and junior Colin Nangle (Westport, Conn.). Along with Macnee on the second-team was senior Baer Fisher (Kenilworth, Ill.). The Panthers are currently 13-2-2 and preparing to host an NCAA Regional this weekend.
Bush has enjoyed another solid season in goal for the Panthers, leading the NESCAC with a 0.40 goals against average, ranking second with an .873 save percentage. Bush has nine shutouts on the season and 23 for his career, putting him second all-time at Middlebury in only two years as a starter. The senior earned first-team honors a year ago, while also garnering first-team All-American honors in ‘07.
Macnee leads the team in scoring with 12 goals in 17 games in ’08, to go along with a pair of assists. He is second in the NESCAC with .71 goals/game, while ranking third with 1.53 points/game. Macnee scored one goal in his first three games at Middlebury, before scoring in six straight games, including two at Colby and at Plymouth State.
Bourdon has patrolled the midfield this season for the Panthers, turning in an impressive performance. The senior scored twice in the team’s 2-0 win at Colby-Sawyer, while assisting on the game-winner in overtime in the Panthers 2-1 win over Norwich on October 22nd.
Moffat and Nangle have anchored a stingy Middlebury defense this season, helping the team to allow a NESCAC-best 0.40 goals/game this season. The duo have helped lead the squad to 11 shutouts this season, including five straight during one stretch.
Fisher earns a spot on the second-team for the second straight season. The senior paces the squad with six assists this season, placing him eighth in the NESCAC with .35/game. Fisher has played in 71 games at Middlebury with 14 goals and 21 assists for 49 career points.
Saward earns NESCAC Coach of the Year for the first time. Now in his 24th year on the Panther coaching staff, Saward has developed one of the most consistently successful soccer programs in New England. He has led the team to 21 post-season appearances in 24 years, including five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances ('94-'98).
The '07 season was a magical one for the Panthers, as they captured the program's first NCAA Championship. Middlebury set a new school record with 18 wins against just two losses and a pair of ties. They earned a school-best 17 shutouts, while not allowing a goal over five NCAA Tournament games. The Panthers also won their second NESCAC Championship. Following the season, Saward was named the New England and National Coach of the Year.
Saward has also guided the team to a pair of ECAC Championships in '86 and '99 and the inaugural NESCAC Championship in '00. He was named the New England Coach of the Year in 1985, 1986, 1996, 1998 and 2007.