Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer players A.J. Fleak and Bastian Beckers earned Horizon League postseason awards the organization announced on Monday.
Fleak was named Second Team All-League, with Beckers earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team.
Fleak, a senior goalkeeper, compiled a regular-season record of 7-5-3, with 72 saves on 226 shots faced in 1382:06 minutes of work in goal for the Norse. Fleak recorded five shutouts this season brining his career total to 15 which ranks third all-time in program history. The Sunbury, Ohio, native earned two Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.
“The body of work A.J. has put together in his career in the Atlantic Sun Conference and now in the Horizon League is impressive,” said men’s head soccer coach John Basalyga. “I would not trade A.J. for any other goalkeeper in Horizon League.”
Fleak was named Second Team All-League, with Beckers earning a spot on the All-Freshman Team (NKU Athletics Image)
Beckers made 14 appearances for the Norse, starting 12 of those matches while clocking 1271:00 minutes. The freshman recorded one assist in Northern Kentucky’s 1-1 draw with Oakland. In 2015, Beckers amassed 10 shots with three on goal.
“It’s a credit to Bastian for earning All-Freshman team honors especially at the midfield position,” Basalyga said. “He has to do a lot of the dirty work out there and he’s played well for us all season long.”
The Norse clinched the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League Tournament and will host a first-round match at NKU Soccer Stadium against Wright State Monday at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the semifinal round hosted by regular season champion UIC on Thursday, Nov. 12. All matches throughout the tournament are set to air on ESPN3.
For more information on the Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer program, please visit NKUNorse.com. You can also get updates on the Norse throughout the season by following @NKUNorseMSOC on Twitter and Facebook.
2015 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Award Winners
Freshman of the Year: Jackson Dietrich, Wright State
Goalkeeper of the Year: Nico Campbell, Valparaiso
Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Austin Ricci, Oakland & Jorge Alvarez, UIC
Defensive Player of the Year: Sergio Manesio, Cleveland State
Player of the Year: Manny Chavez, UIC
Coach of the Year: Sean Phillips, UIC
First Team All-League
Spiro Pliakos, Detroit (So., F)
Austin Ricci, Oakland (So., F) Jorge Alvarez, UIC (Sr., F)
Peguy Ngatcha, Wright State (Sr., F)
Matt Dudley, Oakland (Sr., MF)
Manny Chavez, UIC (Sr., MF)
Eric Lynch, Wright State (Sr., MF)
Sergio Manesio, Cleveland State (Jr., D)
Austin Dunn, Detroit ( Sr., D)
Thomas Villamil, UIC (Sr., D)
Nico Campbell, Valparaiso (Jr., GK)
Second Team All-League
Rashad Hyacenth, Belmont (So., F)
Jake Lagania, Cleveland State (So, F)
Tyler Moorman, Detroit (Jr., F)
Isiah Madrid, Valparaiso (Jr., F)
Dan Koniarczyk, Cleveland State (Jr., MF)
Audi Jepson, Green Bay (Jr., MF)
Shawn Claud Lawson, Oakland (Sr., MF)
Sam Deroy, Wright State (Jr., MF)
Anthony Torres, Belmont (Sr., D)
Raphael Reynolds, Oakland (Sr., D)
Jake VanderLann, Oakland (Sr., D)
AJ Fleak, Northern Kentucky (Sr., GK)
All-Freshman Team
Gianluca DiFranco, Cleveland State (F)
Tinashe Marowa, Milwaukee (F)
Max Todd, UIC (F)
Dennis Kluba, Belmont (MF)
Francesco Saporito, Milwaukee (MF)
Bastian Beckers, Northern Kentucky (MF)
Nestor Garcia, UIC (MF)
Jackson Dietrich, Wright State (MF)
Nick Strack, Oakland (D)
Mike Jimenez, UIC (D)
Eric Hutton, Wright State (D)
From NKU Athletics