The American Eagles men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of American University. The team is a member of the Patriot League of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. In 1985, the team reached to the national championship, losing to UCLA after eight overtimes.[2]
American Eagles men's soccer | |||
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Founded | 1949 | ||
University | American University | ||
Head coach | Zach Samol (6th season) | ||
Conference | Patriot | ||
Location | Washington, District of Columbia | ||
Stadium | Reeves Field (Capacity: 1,000) | ||
Nickname | Eagles | ||
Colors | Blue, white, and red[1] | ||
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NCAA Tournament runner-up | |||
1985 | |||
NCAA Tournament College Cup | |||
1985 | |||
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals | |||
1979, 1985, 1997 | |||
NCAA Tournament Round of 16 | |||
1979, 1984, 1985, 1997, 2001 | |||
NCAA Tournament appearances | |||
1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2020 | |||
Conference Tournament championships | |||
1979, 1997, 2001, 2004, 2020 | |||
Conference Regular Season championships | |||
1977 (co-champion), 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984 (co-champion), 1985 (co-champion), 2004, 2005 (co-champion), 2008 (co-champion), 2011, 2012, 2016 |
Early history (1949–1968)
editAmerican University kicked off its varsity men's soccer program in 1949 as a member of the Mason-Dixon Conference in the NCAA College Division, the predecessor to Division II, but suspended it after just two seasons when a study by the board of trustees decided the school was too small to field a competitive team (the Eagles had compiled a 2–10 overall record) and the sport was too expensive to fund.[3] It was revived, however, in 1954, with the hopes of replacing the role of the football program (ended by the Board in 1942) as the centerpiece of homecoming weekend and a source of school spirit.[4]
The program had achieved a modicum of success under six different head coaches by the mid-1960s when
Move to Division I (1969–1971)
editThe 1969 season marked the beginning of MAC University Division soccer and
In 1970, Boehm left the athletics department to accept a job as assistant director of admissions. His replacement was Sidwell Friends head coach Dick Stimson, who had won three high school championships in eight seasons there, including going undefeated in 1967.[7] The 1970 Eagles would have compiled a 3–5–1 record against D1 competition but for a bizarre game at Reeves Field against new conference foe Drexel. It was a wild affair, with the Eagles blowing a 2–1 lead after trailing 0–1, Al-Rajaan scoring a hat trick on
The Mehlert era begins (1972–1973)
editPete Mehlert was born in Shanghai; raised in Hong Kong, London and Bethesda; and played soccer at Walter Johnson High School and Boston University, where the aggressive, combative—if undersized—midfielder was twice named to the All-New England region team.[12] A year after graduating BU, he was hired as American's first full-time soccer coach.[13] Inheriting four all-conference players, in 1972 he guided the Eagles to a 3–5 record against D1 competition, including two wins against conference foes (including the program's first-ever against 1961 NCAA champion West Chester thanks to a shutout by Kuykendall and a dramatic header by freshman forward Mark McDonough.)[14] Senior forward Brian O’Neill, Kuykendall and Lowenstein all were named to the all-MAC University Division east team, with Lowenstein being named eastern section MVP.
The Eagles continued to improve in 1973 with their first-ever winning season against D1 competition and a .500 record against MAC conference foes, including road wins in Philadelphia against La Salle and Drexel. Al-Rajaan (as a fifth-year senior – he sat out the 1972 season for personal reasons[15]), Kuykendall and Ross were again named to the MAC University Division eastern all-star team. In a move that would foreshadow his trademark penchant for lining up the best opposition in the country, Mehlert scheduled a year-end match under the lights at Washington & Lee High School in Arlington against St. Louis University—who had won the NCAA championship nine of the previous 14 seasons and would win their tenth a few weeks later. Despite outshooting the Eagles 26–8, the Billikens only won 1–0 thanks to Kuykendall's 22 saves.[16] In December he would be named an honorable mention all-American. The capstone to Kuykendall's collegiate career would occur in January 1974, when the NASL expansion Washington Diplomats drafted him with the #2 overall pick.[17]
While the Mehlert era was off to a great start, big changes loomed: In 1973, the NCAA created its current three division structure. For 1974, 12 of the 13 MAC University Division schools (all except Gettysburg) decided to form their own new multi-sport Division I conference—the East Coast Conference—rather than continue in the MAC's multi-division structure.[18] (The rest of the MAC would shortly move to Division III status.) How would
New conference, familiar foes (1974–1976)
editThe East Coast Conference (ECC) retained the MAC University Division's east–west sectional alignment—which reflected more of a big market-small market division than geography, with West Chester moving into the West Division (along with Bucknell, Delaware, Lafayette, Lehigh and Rider) and
There are many differences in the rules of college soccer compared to the professional and international game, including the ability of substituted players to re-enter the game (with certain limitations) and a game-clock that counts in the wrong direction (backwards). Another critical difference is the treatment of regular-season ties, which the NCAA over the decades has tried various ways to resolve, using overtime periods of different durations under both timed and sudden-death rules. If college soccer was played like soccer in the rest of the world, the Eagles would have been undefeated against D1 opponents in 1975, but officially were 5–2–3 (thanks to a 1–2–3 record in their 6 overtime games, including a heartbreaking own-goal loss to West Chester on the road and a home overtime loss to Temple—the closest the Eagles had come to beating the traditional-powerhouse Owls in 10 tries). They also had their first-ever winning record in conference play, going 3–1–1 including their first win over St. Joseph's (they were previously 0–7–2 against the Hawks). Junior goalkeeper Jack Cassell (a name very familiar to the
The 1976 season would see the Eagles continue to play very competitive soccer under Coach Mehlert, going 6–4–1 against D1 opponents and 2–3 in the ECC East. The schedule would see
Welcome to the post-season! (1977–1979)
editThe 1977 season would be a streaky one, but ultimately prove the most successful in
It would be a year of firsts for the Eagles in 1978: the beginning of another local rivalry with new Division I entrant George Mason University (setting the tone for that intense rivalry with a 0–0 tie against the Patriots in Fairfax), going undefeated at home against D1 competition (6–0), and
Returning every starter other than Vecchione from its first-ever NCAA tournament team, the Eagles had high hopes for 1979.[32] But after three games against D1 opponents
Post-season honors
editFinal national rankings
- 2001: #14 in coaches poll
- 1997: #5 in coaches poll/ #8 in media poll
- 1985: #5 in coaches poll/ #8 in media poll
- 1984: #18 in media poll
- 1979: #14 in coaches poll
National awards
Player of the Year:
- 1985: Michael Brady (ISAA coaches award and Soccer America media award—the Hermann Trophy went to Duke's Tom Kain)
Coach of the Year:
- 1985: Pete Mehlert
All-Americans:
- 1997: Second Team - Forward Scott Pearson
- 1985: First Team - Forward Michael Brady; Second Team - Defender Keith Trehy
- 1984: Second Team - Forward Michael Brady
- 1983: First Team - Midfielder Michael Brady
- 1973: Honorable Mention - Goalkeeper Kurt Kuykendall
Conference awards
- 2020: Patriot League Tournament MVP - Forward David Coly
- 2016: Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year - Midfielder Panos Nakhid; Midfielder of the Year - Dale Ludwig
- 2012: Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year: - Cristobal Soto; Goalkeeper of the Year - Billy Knutsen; Coach of the Year - Todd West
- 2011: Patriot League Coach of the Year - Todd West
- 2008: Patriot League Rookie of the Year - Goalkeeper Matt Makowski; Coach of the Year - Todd West
- 2005: Patriot League Rookie of the Year - Midfielder Phil Purdy
- 2004: Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year - Midfielder Shawn Kuykendall; Goalkeeper of the Year - Thomas Myers; Coach of the Year - Todd West; Tournament MVP - Midfielder Garth Juckem
- 2001: Patriot League Rookie of the Year - Forward Andrew Herman; Tournament MVP - Bobby Brennan
- 1999: Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year - Forward Nino Marcantonio
- 1997: Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year - Bob Jenkins
- 1986: Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year - Keith Trehy
- 1985: Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year - Michael Brady; Coach of the Year - Pete Mehlert
- 1984: Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year - Michael Brady; Coach of the Year - Pete Mehlert
- 1983: East Coast Conference Co-Player of the Year - Michael Brady
- 1979: East Coast Conference East Co-MVPs - Luis Calderon and Eduardo Lopez
- 1972: Middle Atlantic Conference University Division East MVP: Midfielder Mark (Lowenstein) Grabow
Patriot League (2001–present) first team:
- 2023: Forward Sam Hershey, Midfielder Zemi Rodriguez, Defender Mike Bleeker
- 2021: Forward David Coly, Defender Nicolas Blassou
- 2016: Midfielders Dale Ludwig and Panos Nakhid, and Defender Michael Cherry
- 2015: Midfielders Dale Ludwig, Panos Nakhid and Liam Robley
- 2014: Midfielder Liam Robley and Defender Jake Weinreb
- 2012: Forward Dale McDonald, Midfielder Colin Seigfreid, Defender Cristobal Soto, and Goalkeeper Billy Knutsen
- 2011: Forward Alassane Kane, Midfielder Ryan Morales, and Defenders Adem Gokturk and Cristobal Soto
- 2010: Midfielder Jamie Davin
- 2009: Forward Mike Warden, Midfielder Nick Kapus, and Defender Cooper Bryant
- 2008: Midfielder Phil Purdy, and Defenders Cooper Bryant and Karsten Smith
- 2006: Midfielder Sal Caccavale
- 2005: Midfielder Sal Caccavale
- 2004: Midfielders Sal Caccavale and Shawn Kuykendall, Defender Charlie Konover, and Goalkeeper Thomas Myers
- 2002: Forward Andrew Herman, Midfielder Kris Kuykendall, and Defender Larry McDonald
- 2001: Forward Adam Rosen, Midfielders Kris Bertsch and Kris Kuykendall, and Defenders Bobby Brennan and Larry McDonald
Colonial Athletic Association (1984–2000) first team:
- 2000: Forward Nino Marcantonio
- 1998: Forward Scott Weber and Midfielder Trevor Ellis
- 1997: Forward Scott Pearson, Midfielder Antonio Otero, and Defenders Stephen Franzke and Avery John
- 1996: Forward Scott Pearson and Defender Avery John
- 1995: Forward Scott Pearson
- 1994: Forward Andrew Graham
- 1993: Midfielder Diego Rebagliati
- 1992: Midfielder Diego Rebagliati
- 1991: Defender Brad Atkins
- 1990: Forward Jon Hall and Defender Raj Lalchan
- 1989: Forward Jon Hall and Defender Andrew Kress
- 1988: Defender John Diffley
- 1987: Forward Stephen Marland and Defender John Diffley
- 1986: Midfielder David Nakhid and Defender Keith Trehy
- 1985: Forward Michael Brady, Midfielder David Nakhid, and Defenders Troy Regis and Keith Trehy
- 1984: Forward Michael Brady, Defender Keith Trehy, and Goalkeeper Steve Giordano
East Coast Conference (1974–1983) first team:
- 1983: Forward Tommy Kramer, Midfielder Michael Brady, and Defenders Paul Tarricone and Keith Trehy
- 1982: Midfielders Michael Brady and Demirjian Vasken, Defenders Troy Regis and Paul Tarricone, and Goalkeeper Steve Giordano
- 1980: Midfielders Richie Burke and Eduardo Lopez
- 1979: Forwards Luis Calderon and Mark DeBlois, Midfielders Doug Dugan and Eduardo Lopez
- 1978: Forward Kevin Barth and Midfielder Luis Calderon
- 1977: Forward: Rolf Neitzel, Midfielder Luis Calderon, and Defender Garn Anderson
- 1976: Midfielder Luis Calderon
- 1975: Forward Alex Chambers, Midfielders Aidan Cunningham and Reggie Dambe, and Defender Ted Nussdorfer
Middle Atlantic Conference University Division East first team:
- 1973: Forward Fahad Al-Rajaan, Midfielder Alan Ross, and Goalkeeper Kurt Kuykendall
- 1972: Forward Brian O'Neill, Midfielder Mark (Lowenstein) Grabow, and Goalkeeper Kurt Kuykendall
- 1971: Forwards Fahad Al-Rajaan and Alan Ross, Midfielder Mark (Lowenstein) Grabow, and Defender Ken Davidson
- 1969: Forward Fahad Al-Rajaan and Defender Jeff Wood
AU alumni in the pros and international soccer
edit
Ten
- Defender Avery John played in 70 games from 2004 to 2009 with the New England Revolution and D.C. United. He also played in 75 games over 4 seasons from 1999 to 2003 with Irish first division clubs Bohemians, Shelbourne and Longford Town.
- Midfielder Antonio Otero played in 25 games with D.C. United from 1999 to 2000. He was a Generation Adidas amateur signee with MLS in 1998 and assigned to D.C. United.
- Defender John Diffley played in only 19 games from 1996 to 1997 with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Sporting Kansas City at the end of his career because there was no US first division league after he graduated in 1989 until MLS was launched in 1996. Tampa Bay selected him with the 27th pick in the MLS inaugural player draft.
- Midfielder David Nakhid played in 18 games in 1998 with the Revolution. He also played in 83 games over 4 seasons in European first division domestic leagues from 1990 to 1994: 42 matches with former Belgian first division club KSV Waragem from 1990 to 1992, and 41 with Swiss first division club Grasshoppers from 1992 to 1994. As a 1987 graduate, his playing career was also impacted by the lack of a top-level US pro league from 1985 to 1995.
- Goalkeeper Kurt Kuykendall played in 15 games from 1974 to 1976 with the Washington Diplomats and New York Cosmos. The Diplomats selected him with the second pick in the 1974 draft.
- Midfielder Mark (Lowenstein) Grabow played in 3 games with the Diplomats in 1976.
- Midfielder Shawn Kuykendall played in 2 games with D.C. United in 2005. He was selected by D.C. United with the 96th pick in the 2005 draft.
- Midfielder Sal Caccavale played in 1 game with the New York Red Bulls in 2007. He was selected by the Red Bulls with the 71st pick in the 2007 draft.
- Defender Chris Brown played in 1 game with FC Dallas in 1998.
- Midfielder Alan Ross played in 1 game with the Diplomats in 1975.
Although they never played in a US first division game, another four
Some of the Eagles’ finest alumni graduated in the mid-1980s, just as the NASL was in its death throes. From 1985 to 1995, when there was no first division US league, Diffley, Nakhid, Calderon and another nine
Two
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ American University Creative Style Guide. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ "NCAA Division I Brakcets" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org.
- ^ Skinner, Bob (October 18, 1951). "Soccer Discontinued". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "
AU Resumes M-D Soccer October 29". The American University Eagle. October 12, 1954. - ^ Hershey, Steve (February 10, 1966). "
AU to Enter Mid-Atlantic Conference". The Washington Star. - ^ "Frostburg Grad Named as Coach for
AU Soccer". The Washington Star. September 15, 1968. - ^ "Stimson Signs as
AU Coach". The Washington Post. August 28, 1970. - ^ "
AU Defeats Drexel on Forfeit in Soccer". The Washington Post. November 1, 1970. - ^ Small, Pam (September 24, 1971). "Coach John Kerr: 'Blue Boy' is Soccer's New Addition". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Menchel, Mike (April 21, 1972). "Kerr Hints Return to
AU ". The American University Eagle. - ^ Davidson, Gary (September 28, 1973). "Kuykendall Spurns Pros for
AU ". The American University Eagle. - ^ Warren, Tim (October 7, 1980). "Thanks to Mehlert,
AU Soccer Won't be Going to the Dogs". The Washington Post. - ^ Menchel, Michael (September 15, 1972). "Soccer Teams Opens with Gallaudet". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Davidson, Gary (October 20, 1972). "
AU Upsets West Chester". The American University Eagle. - ^ Kimball, Bob (September 14, 1973). "Soccer Team to Bolster Attack". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "St. Louis Tops
AU ". The Washington Post. November 19, 1973. - ^ George, Jr., Minot (January 24, 1974). "Diplomats Draft Kuykendall First". The Washington Post.
- ^ Attner, Paul (February 28, 1974). "MAC Dropouts Make Promising Conference". The Washington Post.
- ^ Parrish, Bob (October 11, 1974). "Eagle Eye On: Soccer's John Rachlin". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Parrish and Rick England, Bob (November 15, 1974). "Post-Season Analysis: Injuries Were Main Problem". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Argyropulous, Athena (October 24, 1975). "Soccer Team Loses in Overtime to Temple, 2-1". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "Eagle Sports Shorts". The American University Eagle. December 5, 1975.
- ^ Zemsky, Brian (October 1, 1976). "Soccer Team Off to Good Start". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Zemsky, Brian (October 29, 1976). "Booters Slip Past Drexel 2-0". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "
AU Boosts Record to 4-3-1". The Washington Post. October 24, 1976. - ^ McGowan, Jeff (October 21, 1977). "Soccer Team Up After Temple Game". The American University Eagle.
- ^ Feinstein, John (November 13, 1977). "George Washington to Visit Clemson". The Washington Post.
- ^ Riley, Ann (November 18, 1977). "Eagles Grounded by West Chester in Championship Game". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "GW and
AU Get NCAA Soccer Bids". The Washington Post. November 10, 1978. - ^ Riley, Ann (November 3, 1978). "Barth: In the Right Place at the Right Time". The American University Eagle.
- ^ "Clemson Ousts American 4-0". The Washington Post. November 15, 1978.
- ^ Carter, Russell (September 13, 1979). "Howard, Still Under Ban, Looks Formidable". The Washington Post.
- ^ Tardif, Philip (November 12, 1979). "
AU Booters Overcome Hurts, Await NCAA Bid". The Washington Post.