ST. PAUL, Minn. – Five members of the Macalester College men's soccer team were included on the All-MIAC teams, as the conference announced its annual awards today. Senior defender Nick Kent (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Louis Park), senior midfielder Ondieki Maina (Kensington, Calif./El Cerrito) and junior midfielder Kasdan Blattman (San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine) were named All-MIAC, while junior forward Zach Liptzin (Denver, Colo./Northfield) and first year midfielder Gaven Johnson (Harrison, Ohio/William Henry Harrison) received All-MIAC honorable mention. The five Scots helped Macalester (15-4) win the MIAC Playoffs and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Additionally, Kent, Maina and Blattman were named to the MIAC All-Playoff Team.

Kent was named to his fourth All-MIAC team, becoming just the 19th men's soccer player in recorded conference history to be selected to four consecutive All-MIAC squads. The Scots' central defender, Kent has contributed to seven shutouts while limiting opponents' scoring chances with his strong play. He scored a goal in Macalester's 2-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan on Sept. 13. Also a two-time All-Region IX honoree, Kent has three goals and three assists for nine points in 66 games played in his outstanding career at Macalester.

Maina had a breakout season, leading the Scots with eight goals and 10 assists for 26 points to rank second in the MIAC in assists and seventh in points. He especially turned it on at the end of the season with points in each of his last eight games. In the final regular season game against Bethel, Maina tallied two goals and two assists in a 5-1 victory that clinched second place in the MIAC. He assisted on both goals in a 2-1 win over Gustavus in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs, then found the net twice to lead Macalester past No. 4 St. Olaf, 4-1 in the title game on Saturday. In 58 career games, Maina has 11 goals and 15 assists for 37 points.

Blattman earns his third conference honor after making the All-MIAC team in 2023 and received All-MIAC honorable mention last season. A wizard with the ball in the midfield, he registered career-bests of five goals and 11 assists for 21 points this season. Blattman also scored twice in the win over Bethel and hit a laser into the goal against St. Olaf to put Macalester up 3-0 in Saturday's MIAC final. He has 10 goals and 17 assists in 56 games as a Scot.

Liptzin has developed into a goal-scoring threat this season, scoring seven goals to rank second on the team. He especially had success against Gustavus, finding the net twice in a 3-0 win during the regular season, then scoring against the Gusties again in the Scots' 2-1 victory in the semifinals of the MIAC Playoffs. Liptzin has eight goals and four assists for 20 points in 53 career games.

Johnson has been one of the top first years in the MIAC all season, recording five goals and four assists for 14 points. On Oct. 15, he tallied a goal and an assist in a 6-2 victory over Concordia, and in the title game on Saturday he assisted on the fourth and final goal to seal the championship.

St. Olaf's Ryan Bechtel was chosen the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Christian Hodges of Augsburg was named the MIAC Defensive Player of the Year. Kieran Mahan of Gustavus was selected the Rookie of the Year, and St. Olaf's Justin Oliver was chosen the Coach of the Year.

Macalester was selected to host first and second round games of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16 at John Leaney Field at Macalester Stadium. The Scots will face Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., followed by UW-Eau Claire and Milwaukee School of Engineering at 3:30 p.m. The winners will play on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

Click here to view the conference's All-MIAC release.