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BAY CITY, Mich. — Saginaw Valley State University sophomore forward Tyler Channell (Troy, Mich. / Troy Athens) was named the 2013 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men’s soccer “Offensive Player of the Year,” while SVSU junior defender Michael Lamb (Sunderland, England/Oregon State Univ.) was named “Defensive Player of the Year” in balloting conducted by the league’s coaches.

     Walsh University senior goalie Justin Nolan (Medina, Ohio/Highland/Ashland Univ.) was named the league’s “Goal Keeper of the Year,” while SVSU forward Jordan Kalk (Richmond Hill, Ont. / Bill Crothers) was honored with the league’s “Freshman of the Year” award. Willy Merrick, who guided Ohio Dominican University to a share of the 2013 GLIAC Championship, earned “Coach of the Year” accolades.

    Channell has recorded eight goals and three assists for 19 points, which currently leads the GLIAC.  He competed in all 18 games this season for the Cardinals, leading them to a 10-3-5 overall record heading into the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals.   Channell is the second-straight Cardinal to be named the “Offensive Player of the Year.”

     Lamb has started and played in 17 matches in 2013 thus far for the Cardinals.  The native of Sunderland, England notched four goals on just nine shots for the season and eight points total.  He was highly instrumental in the SVSU defense allowing only 18 goals in as many contests.

     Nolan started all 17 games for the Cavs and made 108 saves on the year. Before the GLIAC playoffs, he ranked eighth in the nation in saves with 103 and saves per game with 6.44 per game. Nolan recorded three shutouts this season and reached the double digits in saves with 10 in a 4-2 decision over Findlay on October 30. He came within one save of double-digit stops in two other games. This is the second consecutive season Nolan has earned post-season honors. In 2012, he was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team.

      Kalk, a freshman from Richmond Hill, Ontario, has a league and team-high nine goals on the season and 18 total points (2nd) while seeing action  in all 18 matches for SVSU.  Kalk had two game-winning goals fo r the Cardinals.

      Merrick is in his sixth season as head coach of the men’s soccer program at Ohio Dominican. In that time, he has led the Panthers to an impressive 63-32-15 record, including a 33-11-7 mark since joining the GLIAC in 2010. He also guided the Panthers to a runner-up finish in his first year in the conference in 2010 and has made it to the semifinals in each of the last three years. He has compiled 10 or more wins in three of his six seasons at the helm. This will be his second GLIAC Coach of the Year recognition, getting the honor back in 2010.

      The complete list of the 2013 All-GLIAC men’s soccer teams and postseason awards is located below: