-- Information courtesy of the Gannon University and the University of Findlay Sports Information Departments --

ERIE, Pa. - Gannon captured three of the four major Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's soccer post-season awards announced Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the conference's Final Four held at Gannon University.
   
Head coach Rob van Rheenen was named GLIAC Coach of the Year, Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh (Johannesburg, South Africa/St. David's Marist Inanda) earned GLIAC Defender of the Year, and Afrim Latifi (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was selected GLIAC Freshman of the Year. University of Findlay sophomore midfielder B.J. Goodwin (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington)was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year.
   
van Rheenen picked up his second GLIAC Coach of the Year award. He also earned the award in 2003. He is the third Gannon coach to receive the award as Marco Koolman earned the distinction during Gannon's first year as a member of the GLIAC in 1995.
   
van Rheenen guided Gannon into the inaugural GLIAC championship match with a 3-2 overtime victory against Mercyhurst in Thursday's semifinals. The Golden Knights are 15-2-1 overall, recording their highest single-season victory total since the 1998 squad went 15-5. A victory in Saturday's title match would give the squad its highest total since the 1993 team went 16-3.
   
Kolkenbeck-Ruh was selected GLIAC Defender of the Year for the second time during his career. The senior also earned the award as a sophomore in 2005 and becomes the third Golden Knight in school history to win the award. Khashayar Azizollahi captured the honor in 2004.
   
Kolkenbeck-Ruh has led a Gannon defense that leads the GLIAC in goals allowed (19), goals against average (1.10), and shutouts (4). He has scored four times this season, including two game-winning goals.
   
Latifi is the fourth Golden Knight in school history to receive the GLIAC Freshman of the Year award and the first since teammate Dan Howell earned the distinction in 2005.
   
Latifi exploded onto the collegiate scene with seven goals, two assists, and 16 points in 15 matches. The true freshman was tied for the GLIAC lead in game-winning goals (4) until teammate Geneo Oberst took over sole possession of the lead with his fifth game-winning goal in Thursday's semifinal against Mercyhurst. Latifi ranks seventh among GLIAC players in goals per match (0.50) and ninth in points per match (1.14).

Goodwin joins former Oilers' standout Jacob Schramm, who captured the honor during the 2005 season, as the only players in school history to earn the offensive player of the year award. On the season, Goodwin recorded a team-high 23 points. He also scored a team-high eight goals to go along with a team-high five assists.

First Team All-GLIAC

Billy Colton, Mercyhurst
Jimmy Henry, Saginaw Valley State
Albert Smith, Ashland
B.J. Goodwin, Findlay
Kevin Fox, Saginaw Valley State
Art Neilson, Northwood
Ross Ashley, Ashland
Filip Dabovic, Northwood
Gareth Kolkenbeck, Gannon
Joel Woloch, Findlay
Steve Boehmer, Gannon

Second Team All-GLIAC

Ross Aitchison, Northwood
Dan Howell, Gannon
Afrim Latifi, Gannon
Brandon LeBlanc, Saginaw Valley State
Tom Mangotic, Ashland
Nick Pahren, Findlay
Michael Albert, Findlay
Mike Spencer, Northwood
Daniel Wragg, Saginaw Valley State
Daniel Mudd, Mercyhurst
Dan Stelletell, Findlay