Matt Stedman was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Year.

Dermot McGrane was named Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year.

Mark Spooner was named to the All-MAAC Second Team.

Billy Gustafson was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – For the Niagara University men’s soccer team, the 2005 season has truly been one for the ages. Thursday evening, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference named junior Matt Stedman (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year, and Dermot McGrane Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year. Also receiving acclimates were senior Mark Spooner (Mickleover, England), a Second Team All-MAAC selection, and Billy Gustafson (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) and Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East), who were named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

It is a year of firsts for the Purple Eagle soccer team. Not only is the squad making its first-ever appearance in the MAAC Men’s Soccer Championships Friday against Fairfield, but Stedman’s selection as MAAC Offensive Player of the Year is the first time a Niagara men’s soccer player has been chosen for this award.

McGrane, in his fourth season as head coach, is the second coach in Niagara men’s soccer history to receive this honor. He has compiled a 23-42-7 record, including a 9-8-1 overall record 5-4-0 mark against MAAC opponents this season. It is the most wins in a season for the Purple Eagles since 1988.

Also named a member of the All-MAAC First Team, Stedman leads the Purple Eagles and MAAC with 36 points and 10 assists. He also leads Niagara, and is second in the MAAC, with 13 goals scored. Stedman ranks seventh in the nation with 2.00 points per game, 15th with 0.56 assists per game and is tied for 18th with 0.72 goals per game. His 36 points this season rank fourth most in a single season in Niagara history.

Spooner, receiving his second Second Team All-MAAC selection, is tied for second on the team with 19 points. His six goals rank third (tied for eighth in the MAAC), and his seven assists second (tied for third in the MAAC). Spooner ranks seventh in the MAAC, averaging 1.12 points per game. He was named a First Team All-MAAC selection as a sophomore.

Gustafson, on the defensive end for the Purple Eagles, was the only freshman and one of four players to start all 18 games this season. He registered one assist in a 3-2 win over Siena Oct. 23.

Two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week, Brodfuehrer led all Purple Eagle freshmen with five goals and 12 points, and had two assists. He played in all 18 games this season, starting in six.

  The No. 4 seeded Purple Eagles play No. 1 seeded Fairfield, Friday at 6 p.m., at Lessing Field on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn.

2005 MAAC Men's Soccer Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Matt Stedman, Niagara

Defensive Player of the Year
Ben Castor, Marist

Rookie of the Year
Kerr McLeod, Fairfield

Anaconda Sports MAAC Coach of the Year
Dermot McGrane, Niagara

First Team All-MAAC
Nicholas Smaldone, Iona - Back
Gabe Ortega, Loyola - Back
Ben Castor, Marist - Back
Tomislav Rogic, Marist - Back
Sam Bailey, Fairfield - Midfielder
Rade Kokovic, Loyola - Midfielder
Marco Orias, Saint Peter's - Midfielder
Billy Androutsos, Fairfield - Forward
Keith Detelj, Marist - Forward
Matt Stedman, Niagara - Forward
Juan Gaviria, Saint Peter's - Forward
Andrew Frankel, Fairfield - Goalkeeper

Second Team All-MAAC
Ed Meyer, Fairfield - Back
Tom Skara, Fairfield - Back
Mike Troy, Fairfield - Back
Chris DeAbreu, Saint Peter's - Back
Kerr McLeod, Fairfield - Midfielder
Paul Racines, Iona - Midfielder
Danny Wheelan, Loyola - Midfielder
Mark Spooner, Niagara - Midfielder
Aldo Hope, Fairfield - Forward
Javier Escobedo, Manhattan - Forward
Anthony Graci, Marist - Forward
Dan Riverso, Rider - Goalkeeper

All-Rookie Team
Tom Clements, Fairfield - Back
Phil Brierley, Loyola - Back
Josh Taylor, Loyola - Back
Billy Gustafson, Niagara - Back
Chris DeAbreu, Saint Peter's - Back
Mike Lentine, Fairfield - Midfielder
Kerr McLeod, Fairfield - Midfielder
Chris Nacca, Marist - Midfielder
Mike Juska, Rider - Midfielder
Aldo Hope, Fairfield - Forward
Eric Brodfuehrer, Niagara - Forward
Michael DeSimone, Siena - Forward
Jesse Sutherland, Fairfield - Goalkeeper