Nov. 16, 2007

DETROIT - Northern Illinois men's soccer players Marcus McCarty and Steve Algozino were honored with all-Mid-American Conference accolades, the league announced Friday.

MAC coaches voted both McCarty (Fort Worth, Texas/Fossil Ridge) and Algozino (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) on to the All-MAC Second Team, after helping the Huskies to a 6-8-4 regular season record.

McCarty led the Huskies and ranked third in the MAC in goals during the regular season with five, two of which were game-winners. His first match-winner came early in the season during Northern Illinos' 2-1 win over Colgate. The second gave the Huskies a 2-1 victory over No. 9 Northwestern, a game in which McCarty also scored the game-tying goal in the 89th minute of play.

Algozino has been one of three senior anchors in the Huskie backfield. The defender helped the NIU defense to five shutouts during the regular season, including whitewashes of No. 17 Akron and Oregon State. Algozino has also netted one goal on the season. He scored the first goal in a 4-0 MAC win over Western Michigan.

Akron led the way with nine all-MAC selections, including Player of the Year Corey Sipos and Newcomer of the Year Steve Zakuani. Zips head coach Caleb Porter rounded out the awards for Akron, earning the MAC's Coach of the Year Award.

The Huskies face Akron tonight at 6:30 p.m. (CST) for the rights to play for the MAC Championship.