OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Three members of the Missouri Baptist Men's Soccer team were named to the Heart of America All-Conference list, the Heart announced earlier today.
Sophomore midfielder, Adel Smajlovic, earned his spot on the second team after leading the Spartan attack throughout the season. Smajlovic was the premiere goalscorer, putting eight shots into the net, adding two assists for a team-high point total of 18. He was perfect on penalties, taking four and scoring four, and notched two game-winning goals as well, including the only score in an upset victory over No. 13 Benedictine College.
Across two seasons at Missouri Baptist, Smajlovic has scored 13 goals and played 2,264 minutes.
Junior defender, Craig Moore, was the commander of a defense that made every game difficult for opponents. While individual statistics will not jump off the page, the impact from the Spartan captain was obvious. MBU's defense shut out seven different opponents across 19 contests. Opposing teams scored 26 times against Missouri Baptist, while the Spartans scored 32 themselves. That six-goal margin was pivotal in an eventual playoff appearance.
Moore has been a mainstay for MBU in his three years, playing 4,313 minutes, tallying six points and earning his second all-conference nod.
Freshman forward, Eroy Gonsalves, immediately impacted the men's soccer program as a second threat to score. The explosive striker was second on the team in goals with six, adding an assist for 13 total points. He tied Smajlovic with shots-on-goal (17) and with a pair of game-winning goals, one of which helped clinch the squad's conference tournament appearance in the final regular season contest against Baker.
In his first season with Missouri Baptist, Gonsalves earned his keep, starting 13 of the 18 games he played, totaling 1,143 minutes.
"So proud of these guys," Head Coach Roosevelt Peters said of his all-conference nominees. "In a conference that is seen by many as the toughest in the country, to have three players in my first season recognized by the other head coaches is amazing. You can see across the conference every award winner is deserving because these are the high performers in the conference. When teams need something special, like consistent leadership or a spark, everyone mentioned is who you see step up.
Adel and Eroy have been offensive sparks for us. Adel is a sophomore who I didn't bring in but worked with in the spring. He stepped up big and trusted me, and I him. Eroy is a freshman who started playing a little later in the season that I brought in, and he is such a great example of a culture fit for Missouri Baptist. If you love him on the field, off the field is even better!
Craig is our captain, and when he isn't on the field, he is truly missed. He missed a few games and was still recognized, showing his impact. We worked through the season on a different way to defend and he is still developing more aspects of his game. He is now an all-conference player in two different conferences. He trusted me and I did him. I hope to have him next season as well.
The team and the coaching staff if behind this recognition, so well done to them all. Congratulations."
