UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team had three named to United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region teams on Tuesday. The Cardinals saw Kolja Thomas (Butjadingen, Germany / Zinzendorschule Tossens), Liam Zimmerman (Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston HS), and Matty Telfer (Newcastle, England / Sunderland College) all make it to the All-Midwest Region Second Team.
Thomas adds to his D2CCA All-America Second Team and All-Midwest Region First Team awards. He anchored SVSU's dominant back line, which allowed just 12 goals in 18 matches and held opponents to 6.6 shots per game—the top defensive marks in the conference. The senior led the Cardinals with 1,517 minutes played, adding two goals and one assist from his center back position. His defensive consistency, aerial presence, and composure in distribution were central to SVSU's success.
Zimmerman joins Thomas on the defensive side after his senior campaign. He added two goals and two assists with a total of 30 shots, 14 on goal, while backing the defending core with Thomas.
Telfer finished tied for the most points on the team with 18 after scoring seven goals and adding four assists in his sophomore season. The forward was a standout on offense as the team outscored their opponents 35-12 and outshot their opponents 348-119. He totaled a team-leading 50 shots and 31 on goal for a shots on goal percentage of .620.
