Popp, Fouts Repeat as Players of the Year as Five Eagles Recognized
WILMORE, Ky. – For the second year in a row redshirt-junior Trent Popp and junior Dylan Fouts were named KIAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, highlighting five players named to the All-KIAC team. Head Coach Ben Andrews was also named KIAC Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a share of the regular-season title and then the tournament crown.
Asbury (14-4-2, 3-1 KIAC) won a share of the KIAC regular-season for the third straight year and for only the third time won the KIAC Tournament with a 5-1 victory over Mountain State on Saturday. The Eagles also won the tournament in 2009 and 2007.
Trent Popp became the first player since 2002 to score double-digit goals, and has netted 20 on the season so far. Last year he scored nine on his way to KIAC Offensive Player of the Year. Popp becomes the first Eagles since 1982 to score at least 20 in a season. He’s also scored seven game winning goals which are fourth most in the NAIA and his 20 goals are seventh best.
Fouts is also a repeat winner of the KIAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording eight shutouts in 20 starts this season. His 1.04 goals allowed per game led the KIAC by over two goals per game. He made 84 stops on the season and played all but 21 minutes in goal this season. In four conference games he allowed only four goals and made 11 saves.
The other members of the All-KIAC team were junior defender Randy Troyer, sophomore midfielder Ryan Moberley and junior forward Jonathan Rehner. Rehner ranks 22nd in the NAIA in assists on the season with 10 and he also added four goals. Moberley added six goals and three assists, three goals were game winners. Troyer scored one goal and recorded six assists as he played a crucial role on the defensive back line.
This is the third straight year Fouts has been named to the All-KIAC team and the second for Popp, Rehner and Troyer. Moberley is making his first appearance on the list.
Coach Ben Andrews has guided the Eagles to tie the school-record for wins in a season (14) as the team is on the verge of qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament. Asbury will play Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday at Walsh University with the winner qualifying for the tournament’s Opening Round on Saturday Nov. 19.
