Marshall University Athletics
Dustin Dawes Earns All-Midwest Region First Team Honors
12/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Dec. 10, 2009
EVANSVILLE, Ind.- Senior midfielder Dustin Dawes has been selected as a member of the men's soccer All-Midwest Region First Team, as announced by conference officials on Thursday afternoon.
Dawes guided the Herd to its best season since joining Conference USA in 2005. MU, after being picked to finish eighth in preseason polls, posted a record of 10-7-2 (6-2 C-USA), and took second place in both regular-season and post-season play.
The Nashville, Tenn., native had quite the impressive senior season. Dawes tallied seven goals, four of which were game-winning goals, two assists, and racked up a team-high 16 points. His four game-winning goals were the most in C-USA.
While playing in front of a hometown crowd at the Belmont Invitational, Dawes guided MU to its first win of the season as he scored a second half hat-trick in the span of nine minutes, en route to a 4-1 victory.
In the first C-USA match of the season, Dawes sent the Herd home from Lexington with a 1-0 double-overtime triumph against then ranked No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats. He carried that momentum into the next conference match as he netted the game-winner at FIU in a 2-1 victory.
Dawes' fourth game-winner came in a 4-1 route of SMU at Sam Hood Field. The senior connected on a penalty kick attempt in the second half which proved to be the decisive goal in the match.
In the final home match of his career, Dawes buried a header into the back of the net in the first half against UAB, as Marshall went on to defeat the Blazers 3-2. The win secured MU the second seed in the conference tournament.
His consistent play was recognized throughout the league by all coaches as Dawes was an All-Conference USA First Team selection. He was also a member of the All-Conference USA Tournament Team.
Dawes started all 19 games at center midfield this season. For his career, he played in 37 matches, tallying 11 goals and four assists. He led the Herd in scoring both last season and this season. Dawes is the first ever Marshall player to be selected to the All-Midwest Region First Team.
"I'm thrilled for Dustin, it is a great honor for him and the team" head coach Bob Gray said. "He was our captain and leader all season. It is good to see his hard work pay off. Hopefully this leads to an opportunity for Dustin to make the All-American team and helps him down the road to play at the professional level."
All-Midwest Region First-Team:
Alex Riggs - GK - Missouri State
Justin Chavez - D - Tulsa
Johannes Demarzi - D - Missouri State
Barry Rice - D - Kentucky
Dustin Dawes - MF - Marshall
Jason Griffiths - MF - Kentucky
Two-Boys Gumede - MF - UAB
Ashley McInnes - MF - Tulsa
Ethan Finlay - F - Creighton
Austin Neil - F- Tulsa
Garrett Webb - F - Drake
