Luke Bennett and Joe Barber receive top honors from AAC

WALESKA, Ga. (November 10, 2022) – Milligan University men's soccer senior midfielder Luke Bennett and head coach Joe Barber took home conference awards as the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) announced its all-conference teams on Thursday.

Bennett was named AAC Player of the Year and Barber collected AAC Coach of the Year honors after the Buffs claimed the AAC regular season title for the sixth time in program history. Junior forward Greg Anderson and sophomore goalkeeper Ludvig Wille were named to the All-AAC Second Team.

Bennett joins former Buff player of the year honorees Robert Fernandez Garrido, Chris Ochieng, and David Lilly. He also repeated as an All-AAC First Team selection. A four-year starter, Bennett set career season highs with seven goals and seven assists in 2022. Bennett's 21 points this fall are a career high and rank second on the roster. Heading into the NAIA postseason, he ranks eighth in the AAC in assists.

Anderson reeled in all-conference honors in his first season with the Buffs after transferring in from Hines Community College. He totaled nine goals and two assists for 20 points. He scored in his debut against WVU Tech and in Milligan's draw at No. 23 Georgia Gwinnett. Anderson had a hand in all three goals in Milligan's AAC-clinching victory over Johnson (Tenn.) in the regular season finale.

Wille secured an all-conference nod in his first season as a start in net for the Buffs. He led the AAC in goals against average (0.85) and posted 110-minute shutouts in both of Milligan's conference tournament games. Memorably he saved a pair of penalty kicks in the AAC quarterfinals against Union to help the Buffs advance in postseason play. Heading into the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, Wille and Buffs have not allowed a goal in the last 437:50 of game time.

In his first year as a head coach, Barber led Milligan to an AAC title and Milligan's third-straight NAIA national tournament berth. He helped the Buffs to a 9-1-3 league record, topping the conference standings with 30 points. Despite an 0-2-3 start, Milligan closed the season with a 10-2-7 overall record and carries a 15-game unbeaten streak into the NAIA postseason.

Anderson, Ethan Bishop, Edward Burgos, Marius Grytdal, Simen Haraldstad, Ludvig Wille and Seth Wright collected AAC All-Academic Team honors. Wright was also the Buffs' Champions of Character Team selection.

The NAIA National Championship Opening Round selection show is set for Monday at 1:00 p.m.