Honors continue: Four Miners named to NSCAA All-Midwest region team

ROLLA, Mo. – The honors continue to roll in for Missouri S&T's soccer team, as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America has released its all-region squads that include four members of the Miners.

The four named to the NSCAA's all-Midwest region team are junior goalkeeper Pat McNamee and sophomore defender Spencer Brinkmeyer – both of whom were first-team selections – and senior midfielders Sam Shaffer and David Kekec who were named to the third team.

Brinkmeyer served as a center back for a defensive group that led the Miners to a number of high national rankings in their categories in 2010. As a team, Missouri S&T is currently ranked third in shutout percentage, fourth in save percentage (86.7 percent) and 11th in goals against average as a team at 0.69 at the Division II level.

In addition, Brinkmeyer also scored four times during the season and added two assists; three of his four goals were game-winners.

McNamee, who was named as the Great Lakes Valley Conference's “Defensive Player of the Year” for 2010, finished the season with a 0.67 goals against average in 1,484 minutes of action and recorded a S&T single season record nine shutouts – the team finished with 11 shutouts to set a new standard as well. McNamee also finished the year with 60 saves in the 16 games he appeared in and is currently ranked eighth in goals against average and 12th in save percentage on the national level.

Shaffer finished tied for the Miners' lead in scoring during the 2010 campaign with five goals and three assists for 13 points. Shaffer scored the Miners' first goal in three different contests and tied for the team lead with Brinkmeyer with three game-winning goals. Kekec, a two-time All-GLVC selection, had three goals and an assist this season, which included a goal in the Miners' regional victory over Ashland.
Previously, McNamee and Brinkmeyer had earned national honors on the Daktronics All-America squad and were all-region selections along with Shaffer and defender Kenny Gravlin.

Missouri S&T won a share of the GLVC regular season title this season. It ended the year with a record of 11-6-3 – with three of the losses coming to eventual national champion Northern Kentucky -- and was ranked No. 21 in the NSCAA national rankings heading into the NCAA Tournament; the final poll will be released Dec. 14.