DEKALB, Ill. -- Vance Sheffield (West Linn, Ore./La Salle Catholic College Prep) of the Northern Illinois University men's soccer team was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI Second Team as the organization announced its 2025 Men's Division I postseason awards on Friday (Dec. 19). 

Sheffield was one of four Huskies, and the only freshman, to start all 17 games this season. He led NIU with six goals, which tied for 11th among all freshmen nationally, and 17 points, which tied for ninth in the country among freshmen. 

The Huskie forward was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team as well as the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team. Sheffield was also ranked 32nd on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Division I Top 100 Freshman List, released in October. 

Sheffield is the first Huskie to earn Top Drawer Soccer postseason honors is Nick Markanich was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI Third Team in 2021. He is the first Huskie freshman to earn national postseason recognition since 2008 when Brad Horton was named to the College Soccer News Freshman All-American Second Team. 

NIU finished the 2025 season with an 8-5-4 record, winning a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.