Despite a first-round loss in the MAC tournament, the NIU men’s soccer team received two of the three major postseason awards Saturday.

The Huskies also had six All-MAC performers for the first time since joining the MAC in 1997.

NIU marked nine more wins this season from last, flipped around its MAC record -going 4-2 -but lost in the first round of the MAC tournament for the fifth year in a row.

Akron won the tournament, defeating Western Michigan 6-1 Sunday in the championship game.

Huskies second-year coach Steve Simmons was named the MAC Coach of the Year. Simmons, 36, was surprised he won the award despite the Huskies losing in the first round of the MAC tournament.

Huskies freshman Curt Zastrow was named MAC Newcomer of the Year. He lead the team with eight goals and 18 points.

“I was able to get the ball deep in the box and score this year,” Zastrow said. “Getting to a lot of free balls and rebounds helped as well.”

Kentucky’s Jamal Shteiwi won the MAC Player of the Year award.

Kentucky was the only team with more All-MAC selections than the Huskies.

NIU sophomore Jose Alvarado joined Zastrow on the first team. Senior Bruce Conrad, sophomores Justin McGrane and Steve Goletz and freshman Fraser Gibson were named to the second team for the Huskies.

“I was very happy to see Bruce be sent off like that,” Simmons said. “He helped our team allow 19 goals – our best since 1989 – and to have him score four goals puts him among the elite as far as defenders are concerned.”