Popovic, Verdi Earn Top B1G Honors; Six Net Conference Accolades
11/8/2019 12:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Six members of the University of Michigan men's soccer program earned 2019 Big Ten Conference honors, per an official announcement from the Big Ten on Friday (Nov. 8). Highlighting the honorees are graduate student Nebojsa Popovic, who was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and senior Andrew Verdi, who was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year.
Popovic and senior Jack Hallahan were unanimous choices for the All-Big Ten first team. Verdi and junior defender Jackson Ragen also made the first team. Junior Marc Ybarra was named to the second team, while sophomore Derick Broche was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
U-M placed four men on the first team for the third time in history, following 2003 (Knox Cameron, Peter Dzubay, Kevin Taylor, Mike White) and 2008 (Jake Stacy, Michael Holody, Peri Marosevic, Mauro Fuzetti).
In his lone season with the Wolverines after spending three years at Oakland University, Popovic became the second U-M player to win the Big Ten's Golden Boot (Mychal Turpin, 2003), leading the conference in both goals (10) and points (23). Hallahan won the same honor last season, giving U-M the last two Big Ten Offensive Players of the Year.
Despite missing the final two conference matches due to injury, Verdi was voted as Goalkeeper of the Year after having a career year in net for the Wolverines. He started the first 15 matches of the season, setting career bests in both goals-against average (0.78) and save percentage (.727). Among Big Ten goalkeepers who played in 10 or more matches, Verdi ranked first in goals-against average and shutouts (seven). He is the first Wolverine to earn the award since its inception in 2013.
Hallahan is the first man in program history to earn first-team honors in three consecutive seasons. After receiving United Soccer Coaches All-America (second team) honors and being named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist last season, Hallahan drew plenty of attention from opposing teams this year. He posted 12 points (3G, 6A) and led the Big Ten in shots (53 in 15 matches). Entering the postseason, Hallahan ranks third in school history in career points (69).
Ragen made the first team after helping anchor a back line that allowed only five goals in eight Big Ten matches -- two of which came on PKs. He also has chipped in offensively, posting seven points (2G, 3A). Ragen is the first Michigan defender named to the first team since Michael Holody in 2008.
Ybarra was named to the second team after leading the Big Ten in assists (eight), doubling his total from the previous two seasons combined. He also plays an integral part in protecting the Michigan defense from the midfield position and joins Ragen as the only Michigan players to play every minute of every match this season.
Broche is on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after a fantastic first season in the maize and blue. Though a sophomore, Broche did not play his freshman season after recovering from an injury sustained in the spring of his senior year of high school. He is second on the team and tied for sixth in the Big Ten in points (13), owning five goals and three assists. Broche played in 16 matches, making nine starts.
In addition, sophomore Kevin Buca was named the team's honoree for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Michigan (9-4-4) is the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will host No. 6 seed Michigan State in the quarterfinal round at 4 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 10) at U-M Soccer Stadium. » Tickets
