COLORADO SPRINGS,  Colo. --- South Dakota Mines junior Brenton Brakke was named to the Men's Soccer All Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Second Team announced Thursday morning from the league office in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while sophomore Garrett Cole earned RMAC Honorable Mention accolades.

During the 2020-21 abbreviated season, Brakke, a junior defender from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, logged 546 minutes – the most on the team -- while helping the Hardrocker defense. He also recorded two shots this year and had one on goal.

"We are very happy that Brenton was recognized by the RMAC this year and that they honored him with a spot on the RMAC Second Team, said Hardrocker men's soccer head coach Ryan Thompson. "Brenton has put in a ton of work this season and played all but 5 minutes on the year. He is a captain, a mentor to the group and the staple of our back line. He always shows up ready to play and work for the team and deserves this recognition."

Cole, a midfielder from Rapid City, South Dakota, in his first year with the 'Rockers, logged 427 minutes of playing time, finished with two points on the year, scoring one goal, had seven shots on goal, and nine total in the five games played.

"A Rapid City native, Garrett was a late addition to the program, but has been an honor to work with," Thompson said. "Being awarded with an RMAC Honorable Mention is a great start for the sophomore. Garrett left it all out on the field this year, recording the most minutes from the forward position and scoring a goal. His work ethic is second to none and we look forward to seeing what he does in the future."

The major awards, along with All-RMAC First and Second Teams were voted on by the conference's 12 head men's soccer coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.

Four forwards, four midfielders, four defenders and one goalkeeper each made All-RMAC First Team and All-RMAC Second Team. Players that did not make either First or Second Team but received one First Team vote or two Second Team votes were named Honorable Mention.

Leading this year's winners is the RMAC Player of the Year, CSU Pueblo's Vinzent Zingel, The sophomore has had a stellar season as one of the conference's best scorers and assist leaders. He is third in goals on the season with five and second in assists with five. Last year he played in all of the Pack's matches as a freshman, and now carries himself as the best point scorer on the Thunderwolves' roster. 

There is a three-way tie for Defensive Player of the Year between Colorado Mesa's Ethan Anderson, CSU Pueblo's Nick Burgess and Colorado Christian's Max Collingwood. 

Anderson leads the RMAC in assists per game with .833 and also has the fourth most points in the RMAC. Burgess leads the Pack defense that helps own the second-best point margin in the RMAC and Max Collingwood was the goalkeeper that led the Cougars to their first winning season in program history. 

Brendan Brown of Colorado Mesa has been named the Goalkeeper of the Year a season removed from winning the same award back in 2019. The Cambridge native leads the RMAC in goals against average (.157), save percentage (.929) and shutouts (six). Against the nation's best, Brown has the fourth most shutouts in the country. 

From UC-Colorado Springs, Alex Andersson is the Freshman of the Year after an inaugural college season in which he leads the Mountain Lions in points, goals and assists. 

Finally, Colorado Mesa head coach, Jon Fridal, is the RMAC Coach of the Year after leading CMU to a divisional championship and the No. 1 seed for the RMAC Tournament. In only his first year, Fridal guided CMU to a 5-0-1 regular season record. 
 

RMAC Major Awards
Player of the Year
Vinzen Zingel, CSU Pueblo
Defensive Player(s) of the Year (Three-way tie)
Ethan Anderson, Colorado Mesa
Nick Burgess, CSU Pueblo
Max Collingwood, Colorado Christian
Goalkeeper of the Year
Brendan Brown, Colorado Mesa
Freshman of the Year
Alex Andersson, UCCS
Coach of the Year
Jon Fridal, Colorado Mesa
 
All-RMAC First Team
F- Miguel De Leon Jr, CSU Pueblo
F-Alec Fronapfel, Colorado Mesa
F-Joe O'Sullivan, CSU Pueblo
F- Vinzent Zingel (POTY), CSU Pueblo
M-Kaden Amano, Westminster
M-Ethan Anderson, Colorado Mesa
M-Loic Jean-Baptiste, Fort Lewis
M-Daisuke Takanaka, Colorado Mesa
D-Greyson Adams, Colorado School of Mines
D-Nick Burgess, CSU Pueblo
D-Gavin Flitton, Westminster
D- Danilo Pekovic, Regis
GK- Brandan Brown, Colorado Mesa
 
All-RMAC Second Team
F- Max Bingman, Westminster
F-Kristian Hooker, Regis
F- Azad Iliozer, Colorado School of Mines
F- Jean Carre, Regis
M- Alex Andersson, UCCS
M-Zach Moss, Westminster
M-Tristan Semelsberger, Colorado School of Mines 
M-Talon Stanley, Colorado School of Mines
D- Brenton Brakke, South Dakota Mines
D- Danny Coronado, Fort Lewis
D- Liam McGuire, UCCS
D- Chayce Willet, Colorado Christian
GK-Peter Byrne, Fort Lewis 

Honorable Mention
Matt Baldridge, Fort Lewis
Kyle Bergmeier, Regis
Garrett Cole, South Dakota Mines
Max Collingwood, Colorado Christian
Dominik Huetgens, CSU Pueblo
Michael Jiminez, Regis 
Emil Joensson, CSU Pueblo
Marshall Johnson, Westminster
Parker Klein, Regis
Gabe Legendre, Fort Lewis
Jorge Lopez, Colorado Christian
Milen Manchev, Fort Lewis
Zach Nielsen, Westminster 
Adan Perez, MSU Denver
Michael Sprauer, Colorado School of Mines
Isa Trujillo, Colorado Mesa