Three from Men's Soccer honored as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

NAIA Release
Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes PDF

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that 532 men's soccer student-athletes, including three from Bellevue University, have been named 2018 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

All three BU selections – Inaki Aldao, Morgan Penn, and Jonas Starkus – have played impactful roles this season and throughout their Bruin careers.

Morgan Penn (Columbus, Neb.), a junior Secondary Education major, is a repeat award winner after also being recognized as a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete at the end of last season. Penn has appeared in 13 games for the Bruins scoring a goal and adding an assist. He's appeared in 21 games in his two-year BU career and has made three starts.

Inaki Aldao (Buenos Aires, Argentina), a junior Business major, led the team with 14 goals and added four assists in 19 appearances for the season. In 36 career appearances he's totaled 18 goals and four assists for the Bruins.

Jonas Starkus (Bellevue, Neb.), a senior Business Administration major, scored a goal in three starts on the year. For his career he totaled 47 appearances, scoring 13 goals and an assist over 18 starts.

The award is the first of its kind for both Aldao and Starkus.

In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved junior academic status.

Earlier this week the Bruins wrapped up their record-setting season. The Bruins finished the year with an overall record of 18-2-2 as they reached the A.I.I. Tournament Championship Game and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Second Round.