11/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV's Timo Mehlich became the third player in team history to be named conference Freshman of the Year as he was named this year's WAC Freshman of the Year at the the WAC Men's Soccer tournament banquet in Orem, Utah on Wednesday night. Mehlich is the first Rebel to receive the honor from the WAC, as Danny Cruz (2007) and Sal Bernal (2011) received Newcomer of the Year honors from the MPSF.
Mehlich was also named to the All-WAC second team, while junior forward Danny Musovski was a first-team selection for the second straight season.
A native of Monchengladbach, Germany, Mehlich made an impact immediately for the Rebels when he scored a golden goal in the Rebels' second game of the year on the road at VCU in a 2-1 Rebel victory on Aug. 28. In WAC play he posted eight points off three goals and a pair of assists. Two of the goals game against San Jose State, including the game -winner, while he also scored the first goal of the game in UNLV's 3-2 victory over regionally ranked Air Force on Oct. 21.
Musovski was the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, but would miss five games in the middle of September with a leg injury. Despite the missed time, he returned to lead the Rebels in scoring for a second straight year as he currently has 24 points off 10 goals and four assists. His points and goals both rank him second overall in the WAC behind this year's Offensive Player of the Year, Niki Jackson from Grand Canyon. Musovski also ranked just behind Jackson in WAC only games as well, with seven goals and 16 points.
As the fourth seed in this week's WAC Tournament, the Rebels will open play on Thursday in the first round against fifth-seed UTRGV at 5 pm (PT) on the campus of Utah Valley. The game can be seen live on the WAC Digital Network, off a link on UNLVRebels.com.
2016 WAC MEN'S SOCCER SEASON HONORS
First Team All-ConferenceNiki Jackson, Jr., F, Grand CanyonDanny Musovski, Jr., F, UNLVSkyler Milne, Sr., F, Utah ValleyPaul Hoffmeister, Jr., MF, Utah ValleyAlex Roldan, Jr., MF, SeattleSergio Rivas, So., MF, SeattleTucker Bone, So., MF, Air ForceKyle Bjornethun, Sr., D, SeattleAlex Neff, Jr., D, Utah ValleyCameron Duley, Sr., D, Air ForceMitch Jensen, Jr., GK, Utah Valley Second Team All-ConferenceBen Conway, Sr., MF, Incarnate WordAustin Dewing, So., F, Air ForceKarson Payton, Jr., F, Utah ValleyAaron Meyer, So., MF, Utah ValleyJonathan Culunga, Sr., MF, San Jose StateTimo Mehlich, Fr., MF, UNLVSam Langston, Sr., D, SeattleNathan Aune, So., D, SeattleFrederik Frankman, Jr., D, UTRGVJohn Wendt, Jr., GK, Air Force
Offensive Player of the Year: Niki Jackson, Jr., F, Grand CanyonDefensive Player of the Year: Kyle Bjornethun, Sr., D, Seattle Freshman of the Year: Timo Mehlich, Fr., MF, UNLVCoach of the Year: Greg Maas, Utah Valley
