CLEVELAND – Four members of the Western Michigan men's soccer team have earned All-Mid-American Conference honors, the league has announced on Thursday afternoon.
Junior forward
Mike Melaragni and sophomore defender/midfielder
Daniel Nimick have been voted First Team All-MAC by the league's coaches, while senior midfielder
Pepe Martinez-Bertrand and sophomore midfielder
Brennan Creek were named Second Team All-MAC.
Melaragni led the Broncos with six goals and four assists on the season, with four of the tallies and all four assists coming in MAC play. The Rochester, Mich., native was extremely efficient with his chances on the season. Melaragni had a team-high 17 shots on goal and 18 total shots, landing 94.4 percent on target. His 16 points, along with goals and assists totals were all career highs.
Nimick had three goals and three assists, while starting in all 11 games on the season. All three scores and two assists came during MAC play and he was tied with Melaragni for the team lead with two game-winning goals. In his defensive midfield role, the Harrogate, England, native also helped the team produce three shutouts on the season. Nimick also led the Broncos in minutes played with 933.
Martinez-Bertrand helped pull the strings in the Bronco attack from the midfield, recording a goal and two assists on the season. He also fired off 11 total shots, landing four on goal, while starting in a career-high eight games this season. The Sant Antoni De Vilamajor, Spain, native was second amongst midfielders in minutes played with 708 minutes.
Creek played and started in eight games on the season, scoring one goal and finished tied for second on the team with three assists. Creek's lone goal was the game-winner in the 4-3 victory over Akron on April 18. The Kalamazoo, Mich., native averaged 81 minutes per game for the Broncos this season.
Melaragni, Nimick and Martinez-Bertrand all earned the honors for the first time in their careers. This is the second time that Creek has been named All-MAC after being a first team selection last season.
