CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced the 2017 Men's Soccer postseason awards Thursday, as voted on by the league's head coaches. Western Michigan produced the MAC Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and eight All-MAC recognitions, including a program-record five on the first team.

Bronco senior forward Brandon Bye was named the 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year. Bye, who played in 17 games for WMU this season, led the MAC in points (29), goals (12), and shots (77), as well as finishing tied for 4th in the MAC in assists (5). Bye becomes the first Bronco ever to be named MAC Player of the Year.
 
Bye is joined on the All-MAC first team by fellow seniors Jay McIntosh, Zach Bock and Drew Shepherd, as well as junior Tommy Clark. McIntosh and Clark combined with Bye to lead the Western Michigan attack this season, both finishing the season tied for first in the conference in assists (8). Goalkeeper Drew Shepherd led the MAC in shutouts this season with 11, and did not allow a goal in five conference games.

"I am extremely happy for Drew, Zach, Brandon, Tommy and Jay," said WMU head coach Chad Wiseman. "Each of them are very deserving of this award, they each have a unique skill set they bring to the program. They all had tremendous regular seasons and the coaches within the MAC saw that as well. The four Seniors being recognized is something that is very cool to see as a coach. Without a strong supporting cast, individual accolades are hard to come by. As good as these five guys have been this season, they would be the first to tell you that the team is what is most important. We have some impressive young men within our program, ones the University, administration and community can be very proud of."   

Wiseman was named the 2017 Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, also earning the honor in 2015. The Broncos come into the MAC Championship as the number one seed, after clinching the MAC regular season title for the first time in school history. WMU finished with a school record 15 wins this season and went 5-0-0 in conference play. The Broncos are currently ranked fourth in the nation by the NCAA, marking the highest men's soccer ranking in program history.
 
The 2017 All-MAC Second Team was headlined by WMU juniors Kosti Moni, Ben Thorton and Jake Rufe.

"Jake, Kosti and Ben have been big pieces to our team this season," Wiseman said. "What's unique about these three is they all transferred into WMU. They have been given a second opportunity and they are making the most of it. All of them have had to put their personal egos aside for the betterment of the team. I am very proud of them for making the changes and sacrifices needed for the team success."

The 2017 Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Championship will begin Friday at Western Michigan University. No. 2 Akron will face No. 3 SIUE in the first semifinals match, beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST. Top-seeded Western Michigan will take on No. 4 West Virginia at 2:00 p.m. EST. The winners of the two semifinal games will meet in the championship match on Sunday, November 12 at 1:00 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3. For more about the 2017 MAC Men's Soccer Championship, click here.



2017 MAC Player of the Year:
Brandon Bye, Forward, Western Michigan

2017 MAC Freshman of the Year:
Joao Moutinho, Defender, Akron

Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year:
Chad Wiseman, Western Michigan
 
First Team All-MAC:
Stuart Holthusen, Forward, Akron
Sam Gainford, Forward, Akron
Joao Moutinho, Defender, Akron
Nick Hinds, Midfielder, Akron
Manuel Cordeiro, Midfielder, Akron
Devyn Jambga, Forward, SIUE
Jay McIntosh, Forward, Western Michigan
Tommy Clark, Midfielder, Western Michigan
Zach Bock, Defender, Western Michigan
Brandon Bye, Forward, Western Michigan
Drew Shepherd, Goalkeeper, Western Michigan
Jad Arslan, Midfielder, West Virginia


Second Team All-MAC:
Nate Shultz, Defender, Akron
Niko De Vera, Defender, Akron
Pau Belana, Midfielder, Akron
Alexis Souahy, Defender, Bowling Green
Chris Brennan, Forward, Bowling Green
Johan DePicker, Defender, SIUE
Jorge Gonzalez, Midfielder, SIUE
Kosti Moni, Midfielder, Western Michigan
Jake Rufe, Midfielder, Western Michigan
Ben Thornton, Defender, Western Michigan
Steven James, Defender, West Virginia