MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Joey Piatczyc and Marlon LeBlanc pulled off a Mid-American Conference double play on Thursday.
Piatczyc, the senior midfielder who has seven goals and 22 points, was named the MAC Player of the Year, while LeBlanc, the Mountaineers’ coach who guided West Virginia to a No. 12 national ranking and the top seed in the MAC tournament, was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
It is the second time the MAC has honored a WVU player with its top soccer award. Andy Bevin won the honor in 2014.
LeBlanc was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the second time and he was also named the Big East Coach of the Year in 2006.
Piatczyc, along with sophomore goalkeeper Steven Tekesky were named to the all-MAC first team.
Defenders Albert Andres-Llop, Pascal Derwaritsch and Ryan Kellogg and midfielder Andres Muriel Albino were recognized on the all-MAC second team.
“Congratulations to Joey, Steven, Albert, Pascal, Ryan and Andres for this well-deserved recognition,” LeBlanc said. “Everyone on our team has played an important role in our success this year, but I am happy to see the accomplishments of these six recognized. Joey has had a fantastic senior season and proven to be one of the best players in the country, and the player of the year award is well deserved.”
West Virginia joined the MAC in 2012.
The Mountaineers (13-5) went a perfect 5-0 in league play this season. West Virginia hosts Akron, at 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Dick Dlesk Stadium, in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
Piatczyc is having a record-breaking season. The Lee’s Summit, Mo., native ranks No. 9 nationally with five game-winning goals. His 22 points are second in the MAC.
His 33 career assists are a school record.
