ST. LOUIS – Missouri State junior forward Jesus Barea claimed the league’s Player of the Year honor, Missouri State senior forward Nicolo Mulatero earned the Valley’s Forward of the Year Award, Missouri State senior midfielder Jack Denton won the Valley’s Midfielder of the Year Award and Drake graduate defender Declan Watters claimed the Valley’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Drake net minder Jon Burke claimed the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while Evansville’s Nacho Diaz earned Freshman of the Year accolades. Barea, Mulatero, Denton, Watters, Burke and Diaz headline a list of 22 student-athletes named to the 2022 MVC All-Conference teams, selected by the coaches, and announced by the league office Wednesday. 

Missouri State and Drake, combined to place 12 athletes on the first and second-team all-conference squads. The Bears and Bulldogs each placed six players on the all-conference teams. Evansville had five players on the squads, while Belmont placed three players on the all-conference teams. UIC added two honorees.  

The 22-member team has players from six different countries, including six players from the United States, six from England, six from Spain, two from Italy, one from Ireland and one from Trinidad & Tobago.