Nov. 11, 2013

CHICAGO - Senior Bob Novak has been named the 2013 Horizon League Co-Player of the Year, in addition to senior Josh Beard taking home Defensive Player of the Year, freshman Andrew Putna collecting Freshman and Goalkeeper of the Year, and head coach Sean Phillips rounding out the field as Coach of the Year, the League office announced on Monday. Nine Flames were also named to the All-League First Team, All-League Second Team and All-Freshmen Team.

"First, I would like to congratulate all the players from the Horizon League who were nominated and selected," Phillips said. "The League continues to become more and more talented every year."

"It is always great to see individual members of your team deservedly recognized for their accomplishments over the course of the season. These individual awards reflect the tremendous amount of work put in by each member of this team thus far. While individual awards are nice, team accomplishments are the most gratifying and what it is really all about to this group."

Novak takes the Co-Player of the Year award, alongside Milwaukee's Laurie Bell, after posting three goals and six assists for 12 points, while attempting 19 shots and having a strong presence in the midfield.

Having been named Defensive Player of the Week for Oct. 28-Nov. 3, Beard has netted three goals this season, with two game-winners, while leading the defense to limit the opposition to just 14 goals as he collects Defensive Player of the Year.

Putna brings home a pair of accolades as the Freshman and Goalkeeper of the Year after playing every minute in all of the Flames' 18 games this season. While posting nine shutouts, Putna has made 47 saves for a .770 save percentage and has allowed only 14 goals for a 0.76 GAA, in addition to being named Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 16-22.

Phillips earns the Coach of the Year nod after guiding UIC to a standout season, with a program-best 15-3-0 overall record and a perfect 7-0-0 in the Horizon League, marking the first coaching award since 2008 when former head coach John Trask received the accolade. The Flames were able to secure the Horizon League regular season title and No. 1 seed in the tournament for the first time since 2008, and ended the regular season on a nine-match winning streak.

This marks the first time in program history that five Flames represented the field of 11 on the All-League First Team, as seniors Slobodan Aleksov, Beard and Novak, junior Jesus Torres and Putna picked up this year's honors. Sophomore Thomas Villamil collected the All-League Second Team nomination, while freshmen Gonzalo Romo, Kyle Hamann and Putna were named to the All-Freshman Team.

The Flames kick off the Horizon League Championship on Friday in the semifinals, when they host the lowest remaining seed from the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. CT at Flames Field.


Horizon League Award Winners
Co-Players of the Year: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (Jr., M), Bob Novak, UIC (Sr., M)
Offensive Player of the Year: Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (Jr., M)
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Beard, UIC (Sr., D)
Freshman of the Year: Andrew Putna, UIC (Fr., GK)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Putna, UIC (Fr., GK)
Coach of the Year: Sean Phillips, UIC

All-League First Team
Admir Suljevic, Cleveland State (Sr., F)
Slobodan Aleksov, UIC (Sr., F)
Adam Bedell, Detroit (Sr., F)
Jesus Torres, UIC (Jr., F)
Bob Novak, UIC (Sr., M)
Laurie Bell, Milwaukee (Jr., M)
Aslinn Rodas, Cleveland State (Sr., M)
Andrew Stone, Milwaukee (Sr., D)
Josh Beard, UIC (Sr., D)
Zach Ellis-Hayden, Cleveland State (Sr., D)
Andrew Putna, UIC (Fr., GK)

All-League Second Team
Joey Tinnion, Oakland (Jr., F)
Sam Krenzien, Green Bay (Sr., F)
Robbie Boyd, Milwaukee (Sr., F)
Brett Elder, Wright State (So., F)
Lawrence Talery, Green Bay (RS Jr., M)
Luke Goodnetter, Milwaukee (Jr., M)
Jesse Ortiz, Valparaiso (Sr., M)
Raphael Reynolds, Oakland (So., M)
Nick Kristock, Oakland (Sr., D)
Thomas Villamil, UIC (So., D)
Emeka Ononye, Wright State (Jr., D)
Sean Lewis, Oakland (Sr., GK)

All-Freshman Team
Sergio Manesio, Cleveland State (Fr., F)
Kevin Klett, Valparaiso (Fr., F)
Gonzalo Romo, UIC (Fr., M)
Omar Lawrence, Valparaiso (Fr., M)
Audi Jepson, Green Bay (Fr., M)
Eric Lynch, Wright State (Fr., M)
Amari Williams, Cleveland State (Fr., D)
Kyle Hamann, UIC (Fr., D)
Adrian Graham, Valparaiso (Fr., D)
Jake Stovall, Wright State (Fr., D)
Andrew Putna, UIC (Fr., GK)