Three Bulldogs Earn Men's Soccer All-Region Recognition

Butler’s team success in 2009 resulted in individual accolades for team members Kyle VondenBenken, Boris Gatzky and Matt Hedges.  The trio of Butler players were named to the 2009 All Great Lakes Region Team, selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

VondenBenken and Hedges both were named second team All-Region, while Gatzky was picked third team.  The three players helped Butler to a 14-3-2 campaign, a regular season championship in the Horizon League and a berth in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.  The Bulldogs earned a “Top 25” national ranking in 2009, climbing as high as No. 17.

VondenBenken, a senior midfielder, started all 19 matches for the Bulldogs last fall, and he wound up second on the team in assists with six.  He earned first team All-Horizon League recognition, and he was named to the adidas Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team.  VondenBenken finished the season with eight total points.

Hedges, a sophomore defender, was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year.  He started all 19 Butler matches and finished third on the team in scoring with five goals and two assists.  He was a first team All-Horizon League pick, was selected to the adidas Gamecock Classic All-Tournament Team and was chosen to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Men’s College Soccer Team of the Week on Sept. 28.

Gatzky, a senior forward, earned first team All-Horizon League and Horizon League All-Tournament recognition, and he was named the Offensive MVP at the adidas Gamecock Classic.  He led the Bulldogs and ranked second in the league in shots (67), shots per game (3.53), points (21) and points per game (1.11).  He further finished in the top five in the league in goals (7), goals per game (0.37), assists (7) and assists per game (0.37)

National runner-up Akron led the All-Region Team with six players selected, while Butler, Notre Dame, Penn State, Louisville, Northwestern and Green Bay each had three players recognized.