Patrick Nielsen Earns All-Big Ten Soccer Honors
11/8/2019 12:17:00 PM | Men's Soccer
This is the second-straight season that the defender has earned the honor.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Redshirt-junior defender Patrick Nielsen was named to the All-Big Ten second team, as the Big Ten postseason awards were announced by the league Friday.
Nielsen, who hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, earned his second-straight All-B1G honor after capturing first-team honors last season. The defender is in his second season with Michigan State after transferring from Cincinnati. Nielsen, who battled injury all season, returned to play during Big Ten action, playing in all eight league contests. He was part of the Spartan defense that allowed only six goals in their final five league contests. He also added an assist in MSU's 3-1 win over Ohio State on Oct. 19.
During an injury-plagued season, this is the first time since 1998 that Michigan State has not had at least one first-team selection. The Spartans played virtually the whole season without defending Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Giuseppe Barone.
Michigan's Nebojsa Popovic was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Indiana's Jack Maher, captured Defensive Player of the Year. Michigan's Andrew Verdi was the Goalkeeper of the Year with Penn State's Aaron Molly earning Midfielder of the Year honors. IU's Aidan Morris was the Freshman of the Year, while Indiana's Todd Yeagley was named Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
The Big Ten also recognized nine Sportsmanship Award honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Senior forward Cody Sweatte earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans.
The sixth-seeded Spartans take on third-seeded Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament game in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the Big Ten Network. Michigan State is currently 3-11-3 this season, heading into postseason action.
2019 Men's Soccer All-Big Ten Teams
All-Big Ten First Team
Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Liam Butts, Penn State
Aidan Morris, Indiana
Eli Crognale, Maryland
Jack Hallahan, Michigan*
Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Jack Maher, Indiana*
Johannes Bergmann, Maryland*
Jackson Ragen, Michigan
Brandon Hackenberg, Penn State
Andrew Verdi, Michigan
All-Big Ten Second Team
Eric Matzelevich, Maryland
Matt Moderwell, Northwestern
Joshua Penn, Indiana
Marc Ybarra, Michigan
Jack Holland, Ohio State
Pablo Ávila, Rutgers
Spencer Glass, Indiana
Simon Waever, Indiana
Patrick Nielsen, Michigan State
Garrett Opperman, Northwestern
Niklas Neumann, Maryland
All-Big Ten Freshman Team
Herbert Endeley, Indiana
Aidan Morris, Indiana*
Joshua Penn, Indiana*
Malcolm Johnston, Maryland
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Derick Broche, Michigan
Liam Butts, Penn State*
Kris Shakes, Penn State
Jalen Watson, Penn State*
Hugo Le Guennec, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, Rutgers*
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Jack Maher, Indiana
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Kevin Buca, Michigan
Cody Sweatte, Michigan State
Mac Mazolla, Northwestern
Parker Siegfried, Ohio State
Will Campbell, Penn State
Jake Longo, Rutgers
Noah Leibold, Wisconsin
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year: Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Maher, Indiana
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Verdi, Michigan
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Aidan Morris, Indiana
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
* - Unanimous selection
Nielsen, who hails from Copenhagen, Denmark, earned his second-straight All-B1G honor after capturing first-team honors last season. The defender is in his second season with Michigan State after transferring from Cincinnati. Nielsen, who battled injury all season, returned to play during Big Ten action, playing in all eight league contests. He was part of the Spartan defense that allowed only six goals in their final five league contests. He also added an assist in MSU's 3-1 win over Ohio State on Oct. 19.
During an injury-plagued season, this is the first time since 1998 that Michigan State has not had at least one first-team selection. The Spartans played virtually the whole season without defending Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Giuseppe Barone.
Michigan's Nebojsa Popovic was named Offensive Player of the Year, while Indiana's Jack Maher, captured Defensive Player of the Year. Michigan's Andrew Verdi was the Goalkeeper of the Year with Penn State's Aaron Molly earning Midfielder of the Year honors. IU's Aidan Morris was the Freshman of the Year, while Indiana's Todd Yeagley was named Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
The Big Ten also recognized nine Sportsmanship Award honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These students must also be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Senior forward Cody Sweatte earned the Sportsmanship Award for the Spartans.
The sixth-seeded Spartans take on third-seeded Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament game in Ann Arbor on Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the Big Ten Network. Michigan State is currently 3-11-3 this season, heading into postseason action.
2019 Men's Soccer All-Big Ten Teams
All-Big Ten First Team
Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Liam Butts, Penn State
Aidan Morris, Indiana
Eli Crognale, Maryland
Jack Hallahan, Michigan*
Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Jack Maher, Indiana*
Johannes Bergmann, Maryland*
Jackson Ragen, Michigan
Brandon Hackenberg, Penn State
Andrew Verdi, Michigan
All-Big Ten Second Team
Eric Matzelevich, Maryland
Matt Moderwell, Northwestern
Joshua Penn, Indiana
Marc Ybarra, Michigan
Jack Holland, Ohio State
Pablo Ávila, Rutgers
Spencer Glass, Indiana
Simon Waever, Indiana
Patrick Nielsen, Michigan State
Garrett Opperman, Northwestern
Niklas Neumann, Maryland
All-Big Ten Freshman Team
Herbert Endeley, Indiana
Aidan Morris, Indiana*
Joshua Penn, Indiana*
Malcolm Johnston, Maryland
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Derick Broche, Michigan
Liam Butts, Penn State*
Kris Shakes, Penn State
Jalen Watson, Penn State*
Hugo Le Guennec, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, Rutgers*
Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Jack Maher, Indiana
Nick Richardson, Maryland
Kevin Buca, Michigan
Cody Sweatte, Michigan State
Mac Mazolla, Northwestern
Parker Siegfried, Ohio State
Will Campbell, Penn State
Jake Longo, Rutgers
Noah Leibold, Wisconsin
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year: Nebojsa Popovic, Michigan*
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year: Aaron Molloy, Penn State*
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Maher, Indiana
Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year: Andrew Verdi, Michigan
Big Ten Freshman of the Year: Aidan Morris, Indiana
Big Ten Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
* - Unanimous selection
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