INDIANAPOLIS – Northern Kentucky Men's Soccer saw four student-athletes earn Horizon League post-season honors as the conference released its yearly award winners on Friday.
Among those honored were seniors
Roberto Burlew and
Sam Robinson who each earned All-League Second Team selections.
Rashad Suhaiba and
Jason Purks were rewarded for their phenomenal first collegiate years by being named to the conference All-Freshman Team as well.
It was the most All-League and All-Freshman Team selections combined earned by the Norse since the 2020-21 season which was played during the spring of 2021.
Burlew showed off his impressive skill as both a defender and midfielder throughout his senior campaign with the Norse. He finished with four total assists in 2023, ranking him eighth overall in the Horizon League. Burlew also recorded three goals for Northern Kentucky, ranking second on the squad in the stat category.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native saw one of his best performances of the year on the road at Milwaukee where Burlew secured two goals in a 3-2 victory over the Panthers. He's also been no stranger to Horizon League accolades, earning a spot on the All-Horizon League Freshman Team and All-Horizon League Tournament Team back in 2020.
Robinson had himself a fantastic year offensively leading the Norse in goals scored with five overall. He went on to finish eighth in the Horizon League in shot accuracy, along with being third in shots on goal per game (1.29) and fourth in total shots per game (2.88). Robinson also ranked 47th in the country in total shots per game as he anchored the Northern Kentucky offensive attack.
The senior from Oxford, Ohio posted two assists on the year as well, seeing his career total increase to 10 overall. Robinson additionally saw his career goal total in a Norse uniform shoot up to 14 after leading NKU in 2023.
The freshman from Pickerington, Ohio turned in a solid first year with the Norse, appearing in all 17 matches in 2023, while making starts in 11 of those games. Suhaiba recorded his first collegiate goal on the road against Southern Indiana in the 70' minute.
Overall Suhaiba finished the season with three total shots, one goal and one assist. His first career assist occurred during a shutout victory against Purdue Fort Wayne when he found his fellow freshman Purks on a goal that proved to be the game-winner over the Mastodons.
Purks, a freshman from Oakwood, Ohio, came on strong for the Norse in his first season at Northern Kentucky, appearing in 12 total matches while making starts in six of those contests. He finished the year with two goals scored and registering nine shots.
He saw his first collegiate goal at home against Western Illinois in what would be the equalizer against the Leathernecks in the 18' minute. Purks added a second goal on the year against the Mastodons of PFW in the final home match of 2023 in the 14' minute as he found the back of the net for the early game-winner in the 15' minute.
2023 Horizon League Men's Soccer Award Winners
Player of the Year: Lukas Hackaa, IUPUI
Goalkeeper of the Year: Tobias Jahn, Green Bay
Offensive Player of the Year: Mikey Ketteman, IUPUI
Defensive Player of the Year: Hesron Barry, Green Bay
Freshman of the Year: Donovan Phillip, Oakland
Sportsmanship Award: Gabe Norris, RMU
Coaches of the Year: Eric Pogue and Jeremy Bonomo
All-League First Team
Pablo Kawecki, Cleveland State, Midfielder
Chris Album, Green Bay, Forward
Hesron Barry, Green Bay, Defender
Tobias Jahn, Green Bay, Goalkeeper
Josemir Gomez, IUPUI, Forward
Lukas Hackaa, IUPUI, Midfielder
Jace Foster, Oakland, Defender
Mikey Ketteman, Oakland, Forward
Owen Smith, Oakland, Midfielder
Soshi Fujioka, Purdue Fort Wayne. Defender
Seth Mahlmeister, Purdue Fort Wayne, Forward
All-League Second Team
Roberto Burlew, Northern Kentucky, Defender
Sam Robinson, Northern Kentucky, Forward
Kyle Folds, Cleveland State, Defender
Tommy Coughlin, Green Bay, Midfielder
Logan Finnegan, IUPUI, Forward
Lucas Morefield, IUPUI, Goalkeeper
Ville Ahola, Oakland, Midfielder
Donavan Phillip, Oakland, Forward
Luke Morrell, Purdue Fort Wayne, Defender
Juan Romero, Purdue Fort Wayne, Midfielder
Anass Hadran, RMU, Midfielder
All-Freshman Team
Jason Purks, Northern Kentucky
Rashad Suhaiba, Northern Kentucky
Drew Pierson, Detroit Mercy
Jago Thompson Roberts, IUPUI
Gijs Velings, IUPUI
Asher Ozuzu, Milwaukee
Carson Ballagh, Oakland
Donavan Phillip, Oakland
Aidan Antcliff, Purdue Fort Wayne
Noah Roka, Purdue Fort Wayne
Henry Hutchinson, Wright State
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