Hayes named Heart Co-Defensive Player of the Year; Danner, Keating, and Shakerin 2nd team all-conference
Nolan Hayes earned back-to-back Player of the Year honors as he was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Heart of America Conference for 2023. Hayes was the Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2022. Cole Danner, Michael Keating, and Michael Shakerin earned second-team honors in the conference. The four seniors have helped St. Ambrose win 40-plus games in the last four seasons and three straight trips to the NAIA Invitational.
Hayes, a senior from Grayson, Ga., was named the first-team goalie in the conference after recording 54 saves in league play. The netminder has 161 saves on the year as of April 27. He had a season-high 25 saves against No. 3 Cumberlands on Feb. 12. Hayes recorded double-digit saves in eight games this season. He also recorded his first career goal on March 28 in a win over Clarke. Hayes was named the Heart Defensive Player of the Week on March 14. Hayes was a first-team selection in the KCAC in 2022 and earned second-team honors in 2021.
Danner, a senior from Chicago, Ill., was named second-team midfield. He leads St. Ambrose with 24 goals as of April 27 and has added 11 assists. Danner had three games with five points - a three-goal, two-assist performance against No. 3 Cumberlands on Feb. 12, a five-goal performance against Midland on March 11, and a two-goal, three-assist game versus Missouri Valley on April 8. Danner is second on the team in ground balls with 36.
Keating, a senior from Sparks, Nev., was named second-team attack. He leads the team in points (39) and assists (24) as of April 27. Keating also has 15 goals on the season. Keating's best game came in the regular season finale on April 22. The attackman put up four goals and three assists in the win over Benedictine.
Shakerin, a senior from Lake Oswego, Ore, was named second-team midfield. He ranks second in points on the team with 38 as of April 27, with 16 goals and 22 assists on the year. Shakerin is the St. Ambrose career leader in goals, assists, and points, and recently went over the 200 career points mark. His best game came against Clarke on March 28 with a three-goal, five-assist performance. Shakerin earned first-team honors from the KCAC in 2022 and 2021.
Jon Paul was named the Co-Coach of the Year in the conference, and Devin Caesar earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors.