ST. LOUIS – Loyola Chicago senior forward Billy Hency claimed the league’s Player of the Year honor, Missouri State junior midfielder Kian Yari earned the Valley’s Midfielder of the Year Award and Missouri State senior defender Kyle Hiebert claimed the Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Drake net minder Jared Brown claimed the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Evansville’s Jose Vivas earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Hency, Yari, Hiebert, Brown and Vivas headline a list of 24 student-athletes named to the 2021 MVC All-Conference teams, selected by the coaches, and announced by the league office Thursday.
Missouri State and Loyola Chicago, combined to place 17 athletes on the first and second-team all-conference squads. Missouri State placed nine players on the all-conference teams, the most in the league, while Loyola Chicago added eight. Drake had three players on the squads, while SIUE placed two players on the all-conference teams. Evansville and Bradley each added one honoree.
The 24-member team has players from eight different countries, including Canada, England, Germany, Haiti, Italy, Norway, Spain and the United States.