Date Posted: 11/1/2006

MACON, Ga. – Jacksonville senior Tommy Krizanovic overcame midseason injuries to claim Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors as announced by the league office prior to the kickoff of the conference Championship.

Krizanovic leads the nation in goals per game and points per game after compiling 14 goals in just 13 matches this season. The Slavonski Brod, Croatia native is just the third Dolphin to grab the league’s top individual honor and first since Petar Popovic took home the honor in 2000. This marks the second year in a row that the most productive goal scorer in the NCAA resides in the Atlantic Sun. The forward also earned All-Atlantic Sun honors for the third straight season.

Belmont junior Jay Ayers anchored one of the league’s stringiest defenses to earn the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The Valrico, Fla., native became the second straight Bruin to earn the honor. After leading Gardner-Webb to its best A-Sun finish ever, Tony Setzer was voted A-Sun Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs nearly doubled their total conference wins from the previous three years this season and will be the No. 2 seed at the A-Sun Championship presented by Bealls Outlets. GWU’s midfield stalwart Boris Gatzky was tabbed Freshman of the Year after his standout play for the Bulldogs.

Preseason Atlantic Sun Conference favorite Campbell placed a league-best six players on the All-Atlantic Sun team, landing four players on the first team. Last year’s top award winner Willy Guadarrama received a first team nod for the second straight season as did 2005 co-Defensive Player of the Year Devin Sheppard. Mercer forward Vicente Arze became a three-time All-Atlantic Sun choice after earning a place on the second team.

All postseason honors were determined by a vote of the league’s eight head coaches.

The conference kicks off its premier men’s soccer event on Thursday when No. 3 Campbell faces No. 6 Mercer at the Stetson Soccer Complex in DeLand, Fla., followed by a nightcap between No. 4 Belmont and No. 5 Jacksonville. By Saturday night, a league champion will be crowned and the league’s berth to the 2006 NCAA College Cup will have been determined. Top seeded Stetson is looking to become the 10th team in conference history to successfully defend their tournament.

Related Links:
 • Award Winners
 • A-Sun Championship