MACOMB, Ill.  -  The Leatherneck soccer team  defeated Quincy, 1-0, and tied Big Ten foe Wisconsin over the weekend and celebrated the 2008 season with their 2008-2009 Awards Banquet Saturday evening.  

The Leathernecks finished 12-5-3 for the 2008 campaign and were among the top-50 in three NCAA Division I in defensive categories.  The team finished the season with a .66 goals against average (15th),  27th nationwide in win-loss percentage (.675) and 48th in shutout percentage (.400). Jona Andrade and Martin Browne  Jr. were selected to the a all-Summit League first team and Nikola Katic and Stephen Patterson were second team selections.  Sophomore defender Kevin Ross was named to the all-Summt League Newcomer Team.

Sophomore Cosimo Patano showed why he was voted by his teammates as the 2008 Most Improved Player  with his game-winning goal against Quincy in the early minutes of the first half of Saturday's exhibition match.  Patano played in 20 matches this past season starting in 15, scoring four goals and adding an assist. The Franklin Park, Ill., native was at his best in tight matches and scored the game-winning goals versus Wisconsin and Oral Roberts and even scored against Eastern Illinois and Drake.  

Diego Zamudio put two good games together at defensive midfield this weekend and was awarded the 2008 Newcomer of the Year on Saturday evening.   Zamudio is a transfer from Lincoln College and moved into the starting lineup this past fall halfway through the season as he started in 13 of 16 matches. The Waukegan, Ill., native has become a mainstay in the defensive midfield position and will be heavily counted on to anchor a young defense next season.

Andrade was voted the 2008 Most Valuable Player by his teammates as he was one of the most consistent performers over the entire season, playing in midfield and sometimes at forward. The Miami, Fla., native played in  started in 19 of 20 matches last year. His six goals were a team high and the Leathernecks won every game in which he tallied a goal. Those wins include the game winner over No. 25 Drake in overtime and the overtime win at UAB.  Andrade also came up with big goals in conference play with goals versus Centenary and Oral Roberts.

Senior Nikola Katic was voted by his teammates as the first recipient of the Mr. Leatherneck Award.  This first-year award is based on personality characteristics that exemplify great teammates. The term Leatherneck is the nickname for Marines  and Western was given permission by the Department of the Navy to use the term "Fighting Leathernecks", the United States Marine Corps official seal and the mascot for their athletic department in  1929.  The U.S. Marine Corps uses the Latin phrase "Semper Fidelis" which translates "Always Faithful" as their slogan.  The slogan also signifies the Maine Corps family value of "Brotherhood for Life".   This award is given to the Leatherneck soccer student-athlete who truly is always faithful.  The characteristics include:

L-eadership,  E-enthusism,  A-ppreciative, T-ruthful, H-elpful,  E-xample,  R-eliable, N-noble, E-xcellence, C-ommitted, K-ind

Katic started and played in all 20 games this season.  His leadership at the center-back position was indispensable and resulted in our defense being one of the best in all of NCAA Division I soccer.

Other seniors who received team awards included Patrick Gritz.  Gritz appeared in 16 games as a senior and scored one goal and tallied three assists. Nebojsa Opapic was also recognized for his two-year career at Western after transferring from Illinois Central College. Senior Jeff Schield was recognized for his four-year career at Western as well. Schield started in 51 games in his career and made 73 appearances as he was an integral part of this year's defensive squad at his customary left-back position.  Senior Luke Greenwell was also honored at this year's banquet as he ends a five-year career with the Leathernecks. After red-shirting as a freshmen, the Quincy, Ill., native appeared in 71 matches and started in 62.  Luke has been a four-year mainstay in the backline for the Leathernecks and a three time all-league player.