HUDSONVILLE, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has unveiled the men's soccer All-MIAA honorees prior to kick-off of the semifinal round in the MIAA Tournament this evening. The Trine University men's soccer team had four recipients, all of which garnering All-MIAA for the first time in their careers.
Junior midfielder Francesco Mazzei was the lone First Team All-MIAA honoree for the Thunder. The Dearborn, Michigan native has started in all 18 games for the team this season and has tallied one goal and four assists for six points. Out of the 21 shots taken by the junior, 10 of them have been placed on-goal for a .476 shot on-goal percentage. Commanding the middle of the pitch, Mazzei has been a catalyst on the offensive end and helpful in flipping the field on the defensive side of the ball. His four assists were tied for the team lead at the conclusion of regular season action.
Representing Trine on the Second Team was junior forward Joey Donovan. Donovan had four of the team's 11 assists during the conference slate, including both goals in a key 2-1 win over Albion College. From Aurora, Illinois, Donovan totaled one goal and four assists in the regular season and was a part of three goals in the 6-1 victory against Olivet College in the First Round of the MIAA Tournament. Donovan scored the opening goal in just the fourth minute of play and was credited with assists on Tyler Murphy goals in the 26th and 59th minutes as well.
Luke Kearns was an MIAA Second Team member as well for the Thunder in the midfield. The sophomore from Dearborn, Michigan scored all three of his goals in 2022 in conference play. His scores came in consecutive matches against Kalamazoo College, at Olivet and at home versus Albion. His goal in the 77th minute against the Hornets aided in a 2-2 draw and he had the opening score of the 3-1 victory on the road at Olivet. The highlight of his year came on October 15 when he scored the game-winning goal to down the Britons 2-1 from an impossible angle in the 88th minute of play. This season, Kearns has also notched assists versus Heidelberg and in the MIAA First Round match against Olivet.
A freshman defender from Holland, Michigan Gavin Hardy was the fourth member of the 2022 Trine men's soccer team listed on the All-MIAA teams. Hardy garnered Second Team All-MIAA by anchoring a defense that has surrendered just 1.33 goals per match over the 18 competitions this season. The defensive unit has four shutouts on the season, including one against conference opponent, Alma College. Hardy has started in the back row in every match in 2022 and scored his first career goal on September 28 in a 1-1 tie at Ohio Northern University.
Trine men's soccer takes the pitch in the MIAA Semifinal Round at Hope College on Tuesday, November 1 beginning at 6 pm.
