El Idrissi Named Heart Player of the Year, Aguilar Coach of the Year
BALDWIN CITY - Following an incredible regular season that saw Baker capture its first conference championship since 2017, the Wildcats came away with six All-Conference selections and two major awards, as the league office announced the 2025 Heart Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams and Postseason Awards on Monday.
Sophomore Chafik El Idrissi was named the 2025 Heart Player of the Year, while head coach Nick Aguilar received Coach of the Year honors after guiding Baker to a 12-4-2 overall record in the regular season and a 9-3-1 mark in conference play.
El Idrissi, who landed on the Second Team last season for Mount Mercy, becomes Baker's first league MVP since Gyorgy Kamaras won it in 2023. The Moroccan midfielder led the Wildcats with seven goals and four assists, finishing among the Heart's top point producers while serving as the focal point of a balanced Baker attack that averaged nearly two goals per match.
Aguilar's recognition marks the first Heart Coach of the Year award for a Baker head coach since Nate Houser in 2013. Aguilar is in his fourth year since taking over the reins from Houser and has won 43 matches, while leading the Wildcats to back-to-back NAIA appearances.
Three Wildcats were named to the Heart's First Team, including El Idrissi, defender Dominik Foldesi, and midfielder Akira Itadani. Foldesi, who was a Third Team selection in 2022, anchored a back line that recorded nine team shutouts and allowed only 15 goals across 18 regular-season matches, while also contributing two assists from the defensive third. Itadani, a 2024 Second Team honoree, continued his strong two-way presence in the midfield with four goals and three assists in his second season at BU.
On the Third Team, defender Marco Salgado and midfielder Javaughn Barrett were each recognized after steady seasons, with Salgado starting all 18 regular-season matches and Barrett earning starts in all but two of his appearances. Salgado finished with one goal and two assists, while Barrett added two assists and proved valuable on set pieces and in transition play.
In goal, Maxot Arystanov earned Third Team honors after ranking among the Heart leaders in goals-against average (0.94) and clean sheets (6). The freshman from Uralsk, Kazakhstan posted six shutouts and 39 saves during the regular season, helping Baker secure the conference's best defensive record after allowing barely one goal per match.
Baker closed the regular season on a 10-match unbeaten streak (9-0-1) and clinched the league regular season title this past Saturday to earn the top seed in the Heart Conference Tournament.
The Wildcats scored back-to-back goals to pull out a 2-1 victory over No. 8 seed William Woods last night in Baldwin City in the Heart Quarterfinals. BU will now host No. 4 William Penn on Hartley Field for a semifinal matchup on Friday, Nov. 7, at 6 p.m.
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