MVC Release
 
ST. LOUIS - Kyle Hiebert of the Missouri State men's soccer team was selected as the Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, joining teammates Michael Creek and Stuart Wilkin on the 2019 MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, announced by the league on Wednesday.
 
Hiebert was tabbed the Valley's Scholar-Athlete of the Year after earning MVC Defensive Player of the Year and All-MVC First Team honors at the conference awards banquet last week (Nov. 14).  The redshirt junior anchors an MSU backline that ranks seventh nationally with a 0.592 goals against average and has allowed an MVC-best 11 goals in 2019.  Hiebert was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team in 2017 and 2018.  This marks the third-straight year the captain has been named to the scholar-athlete team after completing his undergraduate degree in May with a 4.0 GPA.  Hiebert is currently pursuing a master's degree in Accounting.
 
As MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, Creek lands scholar-athlete honors in back-to-back seasons while earning an All-MVC First Team selection this year.  He has played in 1631:40 minutes while recording six shutouts in 2019.  The junior from St. Louis ranks 10th among Division I goalkeepers with a 0.606 goals against average and has allowed just 11 goals on the season.  He has collected 39 saves to lead the Valley with a 0.780 save percentage.  In 2018, Creek earned CoSIDa Academic All-America Third Team, MVC Scholar Athlete First Team and CoSIDa Academic All-District VI honors.  As an Entrepreneurship major, Creek boasts a 3.97 GPA.
 
A four-year starter for the Bears, Wilkin collects another postseason award after being named All-MVC First Team.  He has made all 18 starts in the midfield for an unbeaten MSU squad, tallying 14 points on five goals and four assists to rank seventh in the conference.  Wilkin was named MVC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 24 after scoring in back-to-back matches including the game-winner in overtime at Loyola.  The senior midfielder has made 71 appearances in his career at MSU while receiving an All-MVC Honorable Mention nod in 2017.  Wilkin carries a 3.55 GPA while majoring in Communication Studies at MSU.  
 
The criteria for the all-MVC honor parallels the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) standards for Academic All-America voting. Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale). Also, students must have participated in at least 75 percent of the regular-season matches or played in the league tournament.  Student-athletes must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their institution (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

Missouri State is making its fourth trip to the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament, hosting Denver in a first round matchup on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium.
 
Tickets for the match are available at the gate on game day or in advance by visiting the Old Missouri State Box Office at JQH Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular box office hours.  General admission prices are $5 for adults and $2 for youth, ages 12 and under.  Missouri State students with BearPass ID will receive free admission to the match.
 
Live stats of the match are available at MissouriStateBears.com.  The match will also be televised on ESPN3.
 
For all of the latest information and in game updates on the Missouri State men's soccer team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or follow @MSUBearsMSoccer on Twitter and Instagram.