Gazette file photo Senior Jack Treacy (5) was named the Most Valuable Player for the Stillwater boys' soccer team at its postseason awards banquet on Nov. 23. The Ponies finished the season with a 14-5-3 record and captured their 14th section title since 1985.

One of five All-Suburban East Conference selections for the league champs, senior Jack Treacy was named the Most Valuable Player for the Stillwater boys' soccer team at its postseason awards banquet on Nov. 23 at The Grand.

Treacy, who was joined by teammates Brian Gleason, Brett Ylonen, Joe Balder and Bryan Bjork in earning all-conference honors, was a versatile and selfless performer for the Ponies. Equally effective as a defender, midfielder and forward, Treacy led by example while also compiling four goals and two assists this season.

The Ponies finished the season with a 14-5-3 record, including 11-3-0 to win the Suburban East Conference - their 15th conference championship since 1985. Stillwater also advanced to the state tournament before getting eliminated by Bloomington Jefferson 1-0 in the quarterfinals. The state tournament appearance was the 14th for the Ponies since their inaugural trip in 1985.

"It was an outstanding year of adjustment and growth," Ponies coach Phil Johnson said. "We kept our eye on the process and it adjusted to the skills the boys brought to the game. We worked hard to put them in their best light."

Stillwater posted a 5-4-3 record through the first half of the season, but things began to click following games against Cedarburg and Brookfield East on Sept. 13. After that midseason trip to the Milwaukee area, the Ponies went 9-1 and outscored their opponents 21-3 - including seven shutouts.

"They taught us that patience was needed with our goals, hard work needed in acquiring skills - especially passing accuracy - and this team proved again that the team is greater than the sum of its parts," said Johnson, who also credited assistant coaches Brad Peterson, John Johnson and Matt Carlson for contributing to another successful season.

Bryan Bjork led the Ponies with 15 points on six goals and nine assists while Austin Moore totaled a team-high 10 goals and four assists for 14 points as both players earned a Golden Boot Award. The balanced Ponies featured 17 players who contributed a goal and/or assist this season and 11 players with two or more points.

Ylonen and Ben Johnson collected Iron Boot Award(s) as the top players defensively.

Moore joined Brian Janacek, Emmitt Vernon and Ben Johnson in receiving all-conference honorable mention recognition.

Gleason and Ylonen were all-state honorable mention selections while Treacy was named to the All-Tournament Team of the state tournament.

Jake Mehlhorn and Blake Eason were co-recipients of the Most Improved Player award among varsity players while Sam Graebner garnered the Spirit Award.

Eason, a 4.0 grade-point-average student, was joined by Treacy, Andrew Enright and Bryan Bjork in receiving an Academic Award for their efforts in the classroom.

Also announced at the banquet were Balder, Moore and Ylonen being named captains for the 2009 team.

Boys soccer

All-Conference: Brian Gleason, Brett Ylonen, Jack Treacy, Joe Balder and Bryan Bjork; All-Conference Honorable Mention: Brian Janacek, Austin Moore, Emmitt Vernon and Ben Johnson; State All-Tournament Team: Jack Treacy; All-State Honorable Mention: Brian Gleason and Brett Ylonen; Most Improved Player: Davis Ellingson (B-squad), Paul Weber (JV), Jake Mehlhorn and Blake Eason; Spirit Award: Sam Graebner; Coaches Award: Mitchell Kirby (B-squad) and Jenner Rouscher (JV); Academic Award: Blake Eason, Jack Treacy, Andrew Enright and Bryan Bjork; Golden Boot: Bryan Bjork and Austin Moore; Iron Boot: Ben Johnson and Brett Ylonen; Most Valuable Player: Jack Treacy; Captains elect: Joe Balder, Austin Moore and Brett Ylonen.