ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced the recipients of their 2024 men’s soccer awards on Wednesday. The awards are nominated and voted on by the UMAC men’s soccer head coaches.
Jake Kidd of the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets was named the 2024 UMAC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year. The junior forward led the conference in goals scored (20), game-winning goals (5), and total points (42) this fall. His goal tally landed him fourth in the country and he finished in the top ten for total points
Harry Ambler of UW-Superior was named the 2024 UMAC Men’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Year. The senior center defender led a defensive line that allowed just two conference goals (both of which were scored while Ambler wasn’t on the field) and just 11 total goals the entire regular season. His leadership in the unit was responsible for leading UWS to the best goal differential in the country this season (+91).
Guilherme Gancho of the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings was named the 2024 UMAC Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Year. The freshman midfielder ranked first amongst all first years in the UMAC in goals (12), points (30), shots on goal (27), and game winning goals (4). He also ranked second in assists (6) for conference freshmen.
Joe Mooney of UW-Superior was named the 2024 UMAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year. In his 17
th season leading the Yellowjackets, Mooney led UW-Superior to their seventh-consecutive UMAC Regular Season Championship with an undefeated 14-0 conference record.
The Martin Luther College Knights won the team sportsmanship award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches and awarded to the team that best represents sportsmanship throughout the entire season. Each team also had one representative earn all-sportsmanship honors.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jake Kidd |
UW-Superior |
Jr. |
Superior, Wis. / Superior |
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Harry Ambler |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Reading, England / Little Heath School |
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
COACH OF THE YEAR
TEAM SPORTSMANSHIP
ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
Pos. |
Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
F |
Daniel Almeida |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
Lisbon, Portugal / ESCFB |
F |
Timmy Jackson |
Crown |
So. |
West Jordan, Utah / West Jordan |
F |
Jake Kidd |
UW-Superior |
Jr. |
Superior, Wis. / Superior |
F |
Felipe Oliveira |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Belo Horizonte, Brazil / Colegio Soma |
M |
Josh Bellamy |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
High Wycombe, England / FAB Football Academy |
M |
Simeon Friesen |
Northwestern |
So. |
Mounds View, Minn. / Homeschool |
M |
Freddy Watson |
UW-Superior |
Jr. |
Wendover, England Berkshire College of Agriculture |
D |
Harry Ambler |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Reading, England / Little Heath School |
D |
Serni Batalla |
Crown |
So. |
Artesa de Segre, Spain |
D |
Zach Tiemeyer |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Waunakee, Wis. / Waunakee Community |
G |
Alex Paredes |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Mequon, Wis. / Homestead |
ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
Pos. |
Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
F |
Aaron Mackall |
Minnesota Morris |
Fr. |
Nerstrand, Minn. / Woodbury |
F |
Jared Mojardin |
Northwestern |
Fr. |
Denver, Colo. / Northeast Early College |
F |
Alvin Wlejleh |
North Central |
So. |
Heath Springs, SC / Andrew Jackson |
M |
Guilherme Gancho |
Bethany Lutheran |
Fr. |
Lisbon, Portugal |
M |
Jamie van Wijland |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
Hoorn, Netherlands / Oscar Romero |
M |
Juan Fernando Arriaga |
Crown |
Jr. |
Guatemala City, Guatemala |
M |
Cooper Jones |
Minnesota Morris |
Sr. |
Mankato, Minn. / Mankato West |
D |
Tim DeLoye |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Wausau, Wis. / Wausau West |
D |
Nathan Martinez |
Northwestern |
Jr. |
Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee |
D |
Mike van der Horst |
Bethany Lutheran |
So. |
De Meern, Netherlands / Het Niftarlake College |
D |
Gijs van Eldik |
Bethany Lutheran |
Jr. |
Venray, Netherlands / Raayland College |
G |
Nick Isensee |
Minnesota Morris |
Jr. |
Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee |
ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Pos. |
Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Hometown / High School |
F |
Aaron Hill |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
New Brighton, Minn. / Mounds View |
M |
Diogo Cavalcanti |
Bethany Lutheran |
Fr. |
Cascais, Portugal |
M |
Chris Gomez |
Northland |
Fr. |
Topeka, Kansas / Sporting Kaw Valley |
M |
Joey McMillin |
Northwestern |
Sr. |
Hugo, Minn. / Centennial |
M |
Pedro Silveira |
Crown |
Jr. |
Belo Horizonte, Brazil |
M |
Aaron Shartin-Folkert |
UW-Superior |
Sr. |
Hudson, Wis. / Somerset |
M |
Ricardo Vera Martinez |
North Central |
Jr. |
Bloomington, Minn. / John F. Kennedy |
D |
Marcus Banegas |
Crown |
So. |
Eden Prairie, Minn. / Southwest Christian |
D |
Santiago Grams |
North Central |
So. |
Minneapolis, Minn / Spring Lake Park |
D |
Jed Mittelstadt |
Martin Luther |
Sr. |
Watertown, Wis. / Luther Prep |
D |
Julien Ruoppolo |
Northland |
Sr. |
Melbourne, Australia / Brunswick SC |
D |
Cade Simonson |
Minnesota Morris |
So. |
Champlin, Minn. / Champlin Park |
D |
Stephen Wietzke |
Martin Luther |
Jr. |
Pueblo West, Colo. / Pueblo West |
G |
Nick Lundberg |
Bethany Lutheran |
Sr. |
Mankato, Minn. / Mankato West |
G |
Leo Roque |
Crown |
Jr. |
Cancun, Mexico |
ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.