Three Men's Soccer Players Selected To NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Teams
Dec. 11, 2008
2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I All-Great Lakes Region Teams Chicago, Ill.- Three members of the UIC men's soccer team earned 2008 NCAA Division I All-Great Lakes Region accolades from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and adidas, the NSCAA announced on Thursday, Dec. 11. Junior goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja (Belgrade, Serbia, VI Belgrade) and junior midfielder Baggio Husidic (Velika Kladusa, Bosnia/Libertyville [Ill.] H.S.) were named to the All-Great Lakes Region First Team, while sophomore back Robert Younger (Hull, England/The Read School) was selected to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team. "To see three players selected to the All-Great Lakes Region Teams speaks volumes of what our opponents think of our players," said UIC head coach John Trask. "Jovan, Baggio and Robert were a big part of our success this season, and to see the Horizon League as a whole so well-represented is very gratifying as well. "Jovan has been named to the All-Great Lakes Region First Team the last couple of years, but for Baggio and Robert, who were also named the top players in the Horizon League, to get this recognition shows how well these guys have progressed here at UIC." Bubonja earned his third consecutive NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region First Team selection after allowing just 14 goals in 21 matches to post a 0.63 goals-against average this past season. A semifinalist for the prestigious Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, Bubonja registered 10 shutouts in 2008 to cement his third straight campaign of double-digit clean sheets.
Husidic, who earned his first career All-Region selection, put on an offensive display in 2008. He scored nine goals and assisted on six others for a 24-point campaign that garnered Horizon League Player of the Year and Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Husidic was also named to his second straight All-League First Team. Another first-time All-Region honoree, Younger anchored a UIC defense that posted a team goals-against average of 0.77 while blanking 11 foes during the year. The second-year center back was named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-League First Team honors. As All-Region First Team selections, Bubonja and Husidic remain in the running for 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I All-American honors. This year's trio of Flames on the NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Teams marked the third consecutive campaign that UIC has had at least three All-Region players. Bubonja, Husidic and Younger played key roles in the Flames' banner 2008 campaign that featured the team's second consecutive trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, year-long national rankings that reached as high as No. 4 in the country, a Horizon League regular season title and a school-record 12-match unbeaten start to the season.
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