DEKALB, Ill. – Nick Markanich (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bradley-Bourbonnais) of the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team has been named to the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Third Team, announced by the organization on Tuesday (Dec. 21). 

The Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Markanich led the nation with 16 goals during the 2021 season. He also finished tied with Belmont's A.J. Chastonay for the nation lead with seven game-winning goals and finished third in the country with 37 total points. Markanich helped the Huskies offense to 2.45 goals per game in 2021, eighth-best in the nation.

Among Markanich's game-winning goals this season were the MAC regular season clinching goal against Akron on Oct. 30, the winner in both the MAC Tournament Semifinals against Bowling Green (Nov. 11) and Final, in overtime, against Georgia State (Nov. 14) as well as the game-winning goal against 18th-ranked Marquette on Sept. 10. 

Along with his second consecutive MAC Player of the Year award, Markanich earned First Team All-MAC honors for the third-straight season and was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team. 

Markanich is one of three players in the MAC to earn the Top Drawer Soccer honor, both Diogo Pacheco of Akron and West Virginia's Bjarne Thiesen were also named to the Third Team. 

NIU tied a school record with 15 wins during the 2021 season as the Huskies went 15-3-2, winning both the MAC Regular Season and Tournament titles while advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.