Senior Johannes Demarzi and sophomore Heath Melugin were named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete first team, the league office announced today.
Demarzi, who holds a 3.37 GPA in political science, earned MVC Academic All-Conference first team accolades in 2008 and was named to honorable mention team in 2007. He was twice named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week this season (Sept. 23 and Nov. 11). He earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Sept. 21 and Oct. 19) and MVC Defensive Player of the Week once (Nov. 9) this season. Demarzi was named to the All-MVC first team this season and All-MVC second team in 2008. He led all Missouri Valley Conference players in assists with 10, which ranked in the top-10 nationally in assists and assists per game at end of regular season. He contributed to nine shutouts and only 14 goals allowed this season, tying a school record (1998), as a member of the Bears' defense.
Melugin, who has a 3.93 GPA in cell and molecular biology, was named to COSIDA/ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-District VII first team this season. He was named to MVC All-Tournament team this season after scoring the Bears' lone goal in the MVC Semifinal match versus Evansville. He tied for the team lead with five goals and two game-winning goals this season. Melugin earned MVC All-Freshmen team honors in 2008. This season, he became the first player since Danny May in 2005-2006 to have multi-goal games in back-to-back seasons.
Missouri State visits Robert R. Hermann Stadium tonight for a 7:00 p.m. NCAA Tournament first round match against Saint Louis University. It is the Bears' third NCAA Tournament appearance (1997, 1999).
First Team
Name, School
^Calvin Clark, Drake
^Johannes Demarzi, Missouri State
^%Luke Gorczyca, Drake
^Matt Kuhn, Drake
^Mike Luttrull, Evansville
Robby Lynch, Evansville
Heath Melugin, Missouri State
Ted Schleisman, Drake
^Kevin Shrout, Drake
^Seth Sinovic, Creighton
Brian Wurst, Drake
^First Team selection in 2008;
%First Team selection in 2007
Honorable Mention
Name, School
Grant Campbell, Bradley
Ethan Finlay, Creighton
Evan Philpott, Eastern Illinois
Bobby Smith, Bradley
