2008: Barnes played in all 19 games and started 12 times, including the first three games of the season and Valley game at Drake… one of five Panthers to play in every game… started seven straight games from mid-September and mid-October… assisted on Alex Harrison’s game-winner at IPFW and Brad Peters’ second goal in the victory at Wright State… one of three EIU field players that was not issued a yellow card… averaged 52 minutes per game as a starter… played a season-high 92 minutes in the draw at Northern Illinois.
2007: Barnes played in 16 games and started seven times, including the first six contests of the season… went the distance in each of the first six games of the season, a streak of 582 consecutive minutes played, before coming off the bench in the home opener… also started the IPFW win and assisted on Ben Friesen’s game-winner… helped EIU post a shutout streak of 436 minutes early in the season and eight shutouts total, a new program record in the Valley era… logged 46 minutes in the win at Western Kentucky, a season-high total during MVC play.
2006: He started all 20 games, one of four Panthers to do so… tallied his first career assist on Brad Peters’ goal against Asbury College… key component of an EIU defense that shutout seven opponents and surrendered just six goals in Valley play… multiple-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week nominee… put numerous corner kicks into play… registered two of his eight shots at Bradley.
2005: Played in 15 games and started five, including the first two matches of the season and the regular season MVC contest against Vanderbilt… key substitute on the EIU back row that did not allow more than one goal in any of the last seven games.
HIGH SCHOOL: He was a four-year letter-winner for coach Jason Cohen... also lettered in basketball and track... Mid-Suburban East Conference Player of the Year... two time all-conference selection... NSCAA All-Midwest honors and all-state mention by the Chicago Tribune… captained The Daily HeraldAll-Area team as a senior, Honorable Mention All-Area as a junior… three-year honor roll student... also played for the FC United club team.
PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was “defeating Wheeling High School at our Homecoming, which led to winning the conference title for the first time in 10 years”… credits his parents for always “being there to support me in anything I’ve wanted to do”… most admires coach Cohen because “he was more than a coach but also a friend that I could talk to”... enjoys snowboarding, boating, cooking and grilling, heading to the beach and traveling to Texas... son of Edward and Aurelia Barnes... MAJOR: Kinesiology and Sports Studies.
