Three Broncos earn All-MAC men's soccer honors

KALAMAZOO—Western Michigan University placed three members on the All-Mid-American Conference men's soccer team, the most for the program since 2005. Senior forward Shane Lyons of Plainwell, Mich., was a first team selection, while senior defender Darren Jones of Victoria, British Columbia, and junior goalkeeper Sean Lewis of Rockford, Mich., earned second team honors.

"I think it is great for these three guys to receive this recognition," said WMU head coach Stu Riddle. "All of them had very good seasons and any recognition from the opposing coaches in a conference with so many talented players is terrific."

Lyons collects first team honors for the second time in three seasons in a Bronco uniform, also making the list in 2010. He has led the Broncos in scoring each season, but was left off the All-MAC team last year after his season was cut short by injury. He is the first Bronco to earn first team status in multiple years since Scott Duhl was a first team selection in 2002 and 2003.

Lyons finished the 2012 regular season ranked third in the MAC with eight goals scored and had two assists for 14 total points, fifth best in the conference. He concluded his three-year career at WMU with 21 goals, including eight game-winners, and nine assists. He ties for sixth all-time in goal scoring at WMU and second for career game-winners.

Jones etched his name on the All-MAC second team for the third-straight season, making him one of just four Broncos ever to earn All-MAC status (first or second team) three times. Jones was the anchor of WMU's defense and was used regularly on Bronco free kicks. He scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory at DePaul and assisted three other goals this season. A four-year starter, Jones played in 75 career games, tying as second most in program history.

Only two goalkeepers earn All-MAC status each year and Lewis takes second team honors. He is only the second Bronco goalkeeper ever to be selected All-MAC, joining Eric Pogue, who was named to the second team in 1999. Lewis started every game this season and played all but 124:13 in goal. His 0.92 goals-against average ranked second in the MAC and his .812 save percentage ranked third during the regular season. He registered five complete shutouts and was part of one combined shutout.

The 2012 All-MAC first team was made up of seven student athletes from the University of Akron, two from Bowling Green State University and one each from West Virginia University and WMU. The All-MAC second team was composed of student-athletes from five of the eight programs. WMU had the third most All-MAC members with three. Akron led with 10 selections and West Virginia was next with five honorees.

WMU finished the 2012 season with its best overall record since 2003, going 11-6-2 and 3-3-1 in the MAC. The Broncos were ranked in the top 10 in the Great Lakes Regional poll in the final nine of 10 weeks of the regular season.