Six Men's Soccer Players Named All-MVC
11/11/1999 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 11, 1999
Peoria, Ill. - Six Bluejay players have been named all-Missouri Valley Conference, announced by the league office today. The 12th ranked Bluejays had five student-athletes earn first team honors and one received second-team honors. Also being honored were freshmen Mike Tranchilla and Joe Wieland, who both were named to the MVC All-Newcomer.
Junior forward Brian Mullan (Littleton, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) earned first-team All-MVC honors for the second consecutive season. Tied for the Bluejays active scoring lead with 55 points, Mullan leads this year's squad in both points (16) and assists (8). Starting every game of his Bluejay career, Mullan needs one point and one assist to crack into the Bluejay top ten in both of those career marks.
A trio of seniors also made the first-team for the first time in their careers, Tom Zawislan (Brampton, Ontario, Canada/St. Augustine H.S.), Steve Bernal (Batavia, Ill./Batavia H.S.) and Mike Bustos (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels H..S.).
All-American candidate Zawislan, who has the second-best goals against average in the country at 0.39, has been in the net for all 16 matches this season helping the Bluejays post the lowest goals against average in the country at 0.39. Zawislan, who owns Creighton's lowest career goals against average at 0.63, has tied the Creighton and MVC record for shutouts in a single-season at 11.
A second-team All-MVC pick last season, Bernal is in his second season at the defender position. One of the Bluejays quickest players, Bernal has two goals and one assist on the season, including the game-winning goal in Creighton's 3-0 win in the season-opener against North Carolina.
Also a second-team All-MVC honoree a year ago, Bustos earned first-team honors this season after finishing the regular-season with five goals and five assists. A second-team All-Midwest Region pick last year, Bustos ranks second on the team with 15 points and is tied for the active career scoring lead with Mullan at 55 points.
A three-time first-teamer David Wright (Louisville, Ken./Ballard H.S.) was named the MVC Player of the Year, after leading the Bluejays to 11 shutouts so far this season and a national best 0.39 goals against average.
Senior midfielder Angel Rivillo (Caracas, Venezuela/Duncanville, Texas, H.S.) was the lone Bluejay earning second-team honors. His eight assists is tied for the team lead and his 14 points ranks fourth on the squad. Scoring four points in the Bluejays 7-0 blanking of Drake to close out the regular-season, Rivillo had one goal and two assists.
Also receiving specialty awards were freshmen Mike Tranchilla (Barnhart, Mo./St. Pius X H.S.) and Joe Wieland (Omaha, Neb./Creighton Prep) who were both named to the MVC All-Newcomer squad. Tranchilla is tied for the team lead with five goals, ranks second in points (15) and tied for third with five assists having started only five of the 16 matches he has seen action in. Wieland, who has stepped in for the injured Todd Hammett, has five starts in 14 matches where he has been used primarily as a defensive midfielder.
The Bluejays take on Bradley in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament tomorrow in Peoria, Ill. at 2 p.m. The winner of tomorrow's match will advance to the championship on Sunday where they will face either eighth-ranked Southwest Missouri State or Evansville.
