KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Three Bellevue University men's soccer student-athletes have earned Honorable Mention All-American honors, as announced by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior Renato Silva along with sophomores Inaki Aldao and Toby Millward each earned the distinction. The trio account for the 24th, 25th, and 26th All-American selections in program history.
It marks the first time since 2006 that Bellevue has had three players recognized as NAIA All-Americans. That year, as well as 2005, featured three selections. The most All-Americans that the Bruins have had in a single season came in 2001 when four players earned that honor.
Silva, a midfielder/forward, was named A.I.I. Newcomer of the Year and an all-A.I.I. selection a month ago. The creative Brazilian playmaker scored nine goals and three assists in his lone season wearing the Purple and Gold. He netted the game-winner against both Jamestown (Sept. 15) and Hannibal-LaGrange (Sept. 22). Silva was also chosen to the A.I.I. All-Tournament Team and earned A.I.I. Player of the Week honors back on Sept. 24.
Aldao, a forward, was named A.I.I. Player of the Year last month and was a first team all-A.I.I. selection. The Argentine striker paced the Bruins with 14 goals on the year and added four assists while appearing in 20 matches. He accounted for the game-winning strikes against Doane (Aug. 17) and in BU's Opening Round victory over Marymount (Nov. 17), one of his four multi-goal games on the season. He picked up A.I.I. Player of the Week honors on Sept. 3 and was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete last Friday.
Millward, a midfielder/defender, was chosen as an all-A.I.I. selection and earned A.I.I. All-Tournament honors last month. The English set piece specialist scored 10 goals and nine assists in 21 appearances for the Big Purple Bears. He was involved in a goal in 12 separate games this season and had at least a goal and an assist in the same game three times. He notched four game-winners on the season; at Trinity International (Aug. 25), at Concordia (Sept. 1), at Waldorf (Oct. 13), and at Presentation (Oct. 20).
Last week the Bruins concluded their record-setting season. BU finished the year with an overall record of 18-2-2 as they reached the A.I.I. Tournament Championship Game and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
