Nov. 7, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University's Anthony Szymel (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) has been named to the 2007 Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region second team, as voted on by the region's sports information directors.

Szymel, a junior goalkeeper, has put together the best season of his Lewis career, setting personal bests in goals-against average (0.80), saves (64), wins (17), save percentage (.800) and minutes (1794:55). He has six solo and three combined shutouts for the season, including two consecutive shutouts last weekend as Lewis defeated Indianapolis and No. 1 Northern Kentucky to claim the program's eighth conference title.

Szymel concluded the regular season with a seven-game win streak, allowing only three goals in 556:33, posting a 0.49 GAA and a .880 save percentage. He ended the regular season ranked fourth in the conference in GAA among goalies with 1,000 or more minutes played and was named to the all-conference second team.

In the postseason, Szymel has elevated his play to an even higher level, posting a 0.33 GAA with 10 saves and only one goal allowed. His seven saves in the Lewis' GLVC tournament semifinal win over Indianapolis was a season high and his shutout of No.1 NKU in the conference championship game was the first time the Norse were shutout since Oct. 27, 2006.

This is the first time Szymel has been selected to the Daktronics all-region team but second time he's been named all-region. He was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America second team selection last season.

The Flyers (17-4) this weekend will play in their fifth NCAA tournament in program history. Lewis is the No. 2 seed in the Great Lakes Region and will face No. 3 seed Southern Illinois Edwardsville (10-3-3) Friday at 4 p.m. CT at Wilder, Ky. After the Lewis-SIU Edwardsville tilt, top-seed and tournament host Northern Kentucky (20-1) will play No. 4 seed Gannon (16-2-1). The winners of Friday's games will square off on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT for a spot in the national quarterfinals against the Appalachian Region champion Nov. 17 or 18.

2007 Daktronics All-Region
First Team
GOALKEEPER
Greg Cook, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

DEFENDERS
Andy Bacon, Northern Kentucky University
Zach Bauer, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Dan Impellizzeri, Northern Kentucky University
Matt Cuthbert, Gannon University

MIDFIELDERS
Brian Fishback, University of Indianapolis
Tony Capurro, Northern Kentucky University
Randy Roy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

FORWARDS *Braden Bishop, Northern Kentucky University
Tom Heinemann, Rockhurst University
Marco Cherisma, Drury University
*Regional Player of the Year

Second Team
GOALKEEPER
Anthony Szymel, Lewis University

DEFENDERS
Jonathan Whiley, Gannon University
Tyler Schaefering, Bellarmine
Ben Green, Truman State University
Mircea Handru, Tiffin University

MIDFIELDERS B.J. Goodwin, University of Findlay
Gareth Kolkenbeck-Ruh, Gannon University
Adam Johnson, Rockhurst University

FORWARDS
Kurt Young, Mercyhurst College
Dan Howell, Gannon University
Bojan Jovicic, University of Wisconsin-Parkside