CLEVELAND, Ohio – Freshman Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and three other members of the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team earned all-league honors as the conference office announced its award winners on Thursday afternoon. 

Senior Kevin Rodriguez (Pasadena, Texas/Deer Park) was named to the All-MAC First Team while junior Jan Maertins (Rheinfelden, Germany/Marquette) and freshman Anthony Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) earned places on the All-MAC Second Team. 

"Anytime you get recognition, it is a good thing for the guys individually and for the program," said NIU head coach Ryan Swan. "I always feel for the guys that don't get recognized, I think there is a lot of unsung heroes out there. Picking up one of the big awards, with Nick (Markanich) winning Freshman of the Year is a great honor for him and it is the second time we have had that award in the last four years. It is well-deserved and we are delighted for him.

"Kevin Rodriguez had a fantastic season and is well-deserving of his first team all-conference recognition. Jan (Maertins) coming on late at the end of the season, I think he had a really strong season but his stats started to get him recognition (later in the year), so I was delighted that he got honored. Anthony (Markanich) had a very solid freshman year, through the first 8-10 games he was consistently one of the best two or three players on the field.

"Delighted for all of them, hopefully this becomes the standard and we can build on it in years going forward."

Nick Markanich led NIU in goals this season, tallying eight times, which is tied for third-most in the MAC and is the most by a Huskie in a single season since Marcus McCarty netted 11 during the 2006 campaign, and the most by a NIU freshman since Curt Zastrow scored eight goals in 2004. Nick Markanich is tied for sixth in the nation in goals scored by a freshman this season; he is the first Huskie to be named MAC Freshman of the Year since Rodriguez earned the award in 2015. 

Rodriguez is the first Huskie to be named to the All-MAC First Team since Isaac Kannah earned first team honors in 2014. The Pasadena, Texas, native finished the season with two goals and nine assists, which is the second-highest assist total in the MAC and tied for 11th nationally. Rodriguez, who tallied points in 10 of 16 matches during his senior season, finishes his outstanding four-year career at NIU with seven goals and 11 assists in 59 matches played. 

Maertins scored a team-high 17 points in 2018 as he tallied seven goals and three assists. His 17 points and seven goals are both tied for fifth-best in the MAC. Among the seven goals for the Rheinfelden, Germany native were a pair of game-winners as he tallied the winning goal in home victories over Purdue Fort Wayne (Sept. 7) and UIC (Sept. 18). Maertins scored three goals in the final two matches of the season, including a two-goal game against West Virginia in the regular season finale (Nov. 3). 

Anthony Markanich scored four goals and registered seven assists while playing primarily left back during his rookie season at NIU. Anthony Markanich ranks ninth in the conference in points and scored a pair of game-winning goals, tallying winners at Eastern Illinois (Sept. 21) and Milwaukee (Sept. 25). 

NIU's three all-conference honorees marks the most for the Huskies since the 2011 season when five players claimed all-league honors. 


2018 MAC Player of the Year
Joey Piatczyc, Midfielder, West Virginia

2018 MAC Freshman of the Year
Nick Markanich, Midfield, NIU 

Gary V. Palmisano Coach of the Year
Marlon LeBlanc, West Virginia
 
First Team All-MAC
Skye Harter, Midfielder, Akron 
David Egbo, Forward, Akron
Moe Mustafa, Defender, Bowling Green 
Ebenezer Ackon, Defender, Bowling Green
Tate Robertson, Forward, Bowling Green 
Kevin Rodriguez, Midfielder, NIU 
Johan DePicker, Defender, SIUE
Jorge Gonzalez, Forward, SIUE 
Lachlan McLean, Forward, SIUE 
Ben Thornton, Defender, Western Michigan 
Steven Tekesky, Goalkeeper, West Virginia 
Joey Piatczyc, Midfielder, West Virginia 
 
Second Team All-MAC
Carlo Ritaccio, Defender, Akron 
Marcel Zajac, Forward, Akron
Ben Lundt, Goalkeeper, Akron
Sam Tojaga, Midfielder, Akron
Anthony Markanich, Defender, NIU 
Jan Maertins, Forward, NIU 
Cameron Sipple, Defender, Western Michigan  
Albert Andres-Llop, Defender, West Virginia
Ryan Kellogg, Forward, West Virginia
Andres Muriel Albino, Midfielder, West Virginia
Pascal Derwaritsch, Midfielder, West Virginia