HSU's O'Brien Honored By ASC
By: Chad Grubbs / HSU Sports Information
Updated: November 11, 2009
RICHARDSON, Texas — Hardin-Simmons junior sweeper Chris O’Brien has been named the American Southwest Conference defensive player of the year and six other Cowboys also earned accolade from the ASC in a vote of the league’s coaches.
O’Brien led a defensive unit that allowed only 13 goals on the year and just five in ASC action. He also claimed MVP honors of the ASC Tournament last weekend as the Cowboys won their third ASC title in the last five years.
He also was one of three Cowboys named to the All-ASC first team along with sophomore forward Isaiah
Hicks and senior midfielder Estevan Arbaiza. Hicks led the Cowboys with four goals and two assists. Arbaiza had three goals and three assists from his outside midfielder position.
Freshman defender Brennan Goodman was named the ASC Freshman defensive player of the year. He was also named to the All-ASC third team. Sophomore midfielder Chris Hunter was also named to the third team.
Sophomore midfielder Cody McGrath and sophomore goalkeeper Logan Waters were named honorable mention. Waters’ award appeared to be a snub by the coaches as he was second in the league in goals against average and shutouts and third in the league in save percentage, yet four goalkeepers were selected ahead of him.
Michael Cooper of Mississippi College was named the offensive player of the year, Scott Janders of Ozarks was named ASC offensive freshman of the year, Brian Friend of Concordia was named sportsmanship athlete of the year and former HSU standout Brad Bankhead was named ASC Coach of the year after he led his Mary Hardin-Baylor team to the ASC regular-season title.
The Cowboys are 10-2-6 on the year and went 8-1-3 in ASC action. They will play at Mary Hardin-Baylor in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
For the list of the complete teams you can go to http://ascsports.org/news/2009/11/10/MSOC_1110094205.aspx
