Freshman trio headlines Wisconsin postseason honors
November 12, 2014 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 12, 2014
MADISON, Wis. –The consensus seems to be that the future will be a very bright one for the Wisconsin men’s soccer program. Tom Barlow, Mike Catalano and Mark Segbers were each named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team when the conference announced its season-ending awards Wednesday.
Barlow and Segbers were each unanimous selections to the all-freshman team, after the two forwards from St. Louis, Missouri, scored five goals each on the season and shared the team’s scoring lead. Catalano started all 17 games he played this season as a true freshman in the midfield.
The 20th, 21st and 22nd Badgers all-time to earn all-freshman team honors, Wisconsin had more representatives on the all-freshman team than any other Big Ten school. Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Ohio State each had two freshmen.
“We knew all three of these freshmen were going to be special players at Wisconsin,” UW head coach John Trask said. “They were highly sought after and to see them be recognized by the coaches in the Big Ten is a really great accomplishment.
“The Big Ten is an outstanding men’s soccer conference and hopefully all three of these outstanding players will reset their goals to be on All-Big Ten teams in the future.”
Barlow, Catalano and Segbers were also each ranked among the top 100 freshmen in the country in a ranking recently released by Top Drawer Soccer. Catalano was regarded as the 40th-best collegiate freshman in the nation, while teammate Segbers came just behind at No. 46 and Barlow checked in at No. 58.
Barlow and Segbers showed their game-changing ability on the attack for Wisconsin during their debut season. Pairing to score 10 of the team’s 20 goals, the duo also combined to tally nearly half of the team's point production this season (48.3%).
Catalano tallied two goals and one assist during the season. The Roselle, Illinois, native netted his first-career goal as a Badger to spark a 4-0 rout of Xavier earlier this season. Catalano’s second goal of the season was a clutch one, as it came against St. John's and equalized the game in the second half.
In addition to the freshman honors, senior Jacob Brindle earned the Big Ten’s Sportsmanship Award for his tremendous reputation both on the playing field and in the classroom.
