Full All-American Teams
PALATINE, Ill. – Harper College freshman men's soccer player Niko Mihalopoulos (Lake in the Hills, Ill./Huntley) had quite the season for the Hawks. After being named First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region, an even more prestigious award was bestowed upon him by the NJCAA national office this week. The forward was voted as the top player from the region and named a NJCAA Second Team All-American.
Mihaloupoulos played a big part in success of Harper College men's soccer this year, as the team went 11-4-3, won the North Central Community College (N4C) regular season title, and was the NJCAA Region IV champion. In 16 games, he led the team in several major offensive categories, including goals (11), points (25), shots (59), and shots on goal (36). Harper head coach Dan Klaus explained that Mihaloupoulos was more than just a goal scorer for the Hawks.
"He is a well-rounded player as well, contributing in other areas of the game that made us a better team," Klaus said. "His ability to occupy multiple defenders from the opposition allowed our other players to excel as well, which those teammates did very well. Individual awards are not possible without teammates."
He also played his best soccer when it mattered the most. Against defending Region IV champion Rock Valley College in the Region IV Semifinals, Mihalopoulous scored twice to help the Hawks to a 5-0 victory. In the Region IV Championship, the freshman scored a huge insurance goal in the 86th minute to help Harper to a 2-0 victory.
Mihalopoulos joins former Hawk Matt Polovin (1993) as the only two Hawks players to be named All-Americans.
"We are pleased with what has happened during my first two years here, and I think this award for Niko represents that," Klaus said. "We are by no means satisfied, and we want to continue to attract strong players from the MSL and the Chicagoland area and help them on their way to becoming wonderful young men."
