St. Louis, Mo. - After just one season playing in the Missouri Valley Conference, Southern Methodist University has earned three of the league's top awards. By a vote of Valley coaches, SMU's Diego Walsh has been named the Player of the Year, his teammate Carl Bussey has been named the Defensive Player of the Year, and the Mustangs' head coach Schellas Hyndman has been named the Coach of the Year.

Walsh, a sophomore from Miami, recorded a league-leading 14 assists this season. He has scored 32 points including nine goals. A first-team All-Conference selection, Walsh helped lead SMU to a Valley record of 10-1 and the regular-season conference title. A Hermann Trophy finalist, Bussey anchored the SMU defense that blanked its opponents six times and allowed 20 goals thus far this season. A two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and a first-team All-American last year, Bussey also scored nine goals and two assists for the Mustangs this year.

A head coach for 24 years, Hyndman notched two historic wins this season, as he picked up win No. 250 while in his 17th year at SMU. He also picked up career win No. 350 in his 24th season overall as a head coach. Heading into the Valley semifinals, Hyndman's Mustangs are nationally ranked at #4, with a record of 17-3. This is Hyndman's fourth consecutive Coach of the Year honor (three with the WAC, one with the MVC).

The Valley Newcomer of the Year is Eastern Illinois' Jason Thompson. Thompson has been ranked among the national scoring leaders throughout the year. The Panther freshman tied an all-time league record with 21 goals this year, picking up No. 21 against Bradley in the regular-season finale last Thursday. He wound up the season with 49 points, second all-time at Eastern and tied for the Valley all-time record.

SMU honorees include:

MVC All-Conference First Team:
Junior defender Carl Bussey
Sophomore midfielder Diego Walsh
Junior forward Mohamed Fahim

MVC All-Conference Second Team:
Junior goalkeeper Byron Foss
Junior defender Lee "Crunch" Brown
Junior forward Luchi Gonzalez

MVC Honorable Mention:
Sophomore defender Tom Dolan
Senior midfielder Matt Whiteley

MVC All-Newcomer Team:
Freshman midfielder Kevin Hudson

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Diego Walsh, SMU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Carl Bussey, SMU
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jason Thompson, EIU
COACH OF THE YEAR: Schellas Hyndman, SMU