College Sports Information Directors of America

STAMFORD, Conn., November 25, 2002 – Verizon and CoSIDA released today the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America® Men’s National Soccer Team. Duquesne University and Otterbein College led the lists with three National Men’s Soccer Team members each. Jason Kutney, Christian Reinecker and Terry McNelis were the three National Team members from Duquesne University, which was ranked fourth in the Mid-Atlantic Region. McNelis, a senior goalkeeper from Reading, PA, is a three-time Verizon Academic All-America National Team member. Otterbein College, which advanced to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals for the first time this past weekend, not only had three of its men’s soccer team members named to the College Division National Men’s Soccer Team, but also the College Division’s Academic All-America of the Year, Michael Lochner. Both Lochner, a defender, and the team’s leading scorer, Angelo Manzo, were named to the National Men’s Soccer First Team. Midfielder Benjamin Jesse Rose was named to the second team. Matt Osborne, a forward for George Washington University, was named Academic All-America® of the Year, University Division. A senior, Osborne will finish his career second in career scoring and goals and fourth overall for career assists. Defender Chris Wingert, a junior from St. John’s University, was named to the National Men’s Soccer First Team. Wingert is the captain and defensive anchor of the Number 2 ranked team in the country and also is a starter for the U.S. U-23 National Team. St. John’s team member, and fellow defenseman, Patrick Lonergan was named to the third team. Lonergan helped his team to 10 shutouts this season and a goals-against-average of 0.32, one of the lowest in the country. “The Academic All-America program is the nation’s most prestigious scholar athlete award. We are thrilled that this program allows our Sports Information Directors to pay tribute to the phenomenal individuals at their colleges and universities,” said Alan Cannon, President of CoSIDA. “This year’s National Men’s Soccer Team is truly extraordinary. I’m pleased we are able to recognize these student-athletes for all of their hard work.” The complete list of student-athletes named to the Verizon Academic All-America Teams Program National Men’s Soccer Team is attached. The Verizon Academic All-America Teams program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded on the field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected by votes from CoSIDA, the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Since the program’s inception in 1952, over 12,000 student-athletes have been honored with the award. This is the second year the program has recognized soccer with a separate category outside of its At-Large team. Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985. Verizon, America's literacy champion, strongly believes that literacy is a key ingredient to success and outstanding achievements in life. The Academic All-America program is part of Verizon Reads, the company's national campaign to promote literacy through corporate philanthropy, partner collaboration, community outreach, and customer and employee participation. For more information about Verizon, visit www.verizon.com. For more information about the Academic All-America programs, visit www.cosida.com or email academicallamerica@millsport.com. 2002-2003 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® MEN'S SOCCER TEAM University Division First Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Soren Johnson Davidson Sr. GK Blowing Rock, NC 3.79/Neuroscience Taylor Graham Stanford Sr. D Fair Oaks, CA 3.73/International Relations Arni Gunnarsson Hofstra Jr. D Kopavogur, Iceland 3.89/Engineering Jeff Kovar Loyola Marymount Sr. D Palos Verdes, CA 3.85/Biology Chris Wingert St. John’s University Jr. D Babylon, NY 3.83/Communication Arts Matt Crawford North Carolina Sr. MF Durham, NC 3.695/Biology Michael Mariscalco Butler Sr. MF Dayton, OH 3.74/Biology, Pre-Med Diego Walsh SMU Sr. MF Miami, FL 3.40/Finance Matt Osborne* George Washington Sr. F Bingham, Notte, Eng. 3.73/Exercise Science T.J. Rolfing Radford Sr. F Sioux Falls, SD 3.638/Marketing Attila Vendegh Old Dominion Jr. F Bratslavia, Slovakia 3.73/International Business Second Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Tyler Robinson Michigan State Sr. GK Lansing, MI 3.95/History Jeff Kinney American Sr. D Fairfax, VA 3.75/Physics Jason Kutney Duquesne Jr. D Freehold, NJ 3.95/Business Christian Reinecker Duquesne Sr. D Reading, PA 3.94/Marketing Matt Sahag Drake Sr. D Caledonia, IL 3.82/Finance Jeremy Cook Northwestern Jr. MF Hudson, WI 3.95/Chemistry Justin Langan Western Illinois Jr. MF Davenport, IA 3.77/ Biology, Pre-Med Aaron McHardy Oregon State Sr. MF Vancouver, BC 3.66/Business Tyler Conley San Diego Sr. F Golden, CO 3.87/Business Nate Jaqua Portland Jr. F Eugene, OR 3.38/Interdisciplinary Joachim Walker Cleveland State Sr. F Bay Village, OH 3.74/Liberal Studies Third Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Terry McNelis Duquesne Sr. GK Reading, PA 3.60/Physical Therapy Ty Beckmann Western Illinois Jr. D Bellevue, NE 3.91/Manufacturing Eng. Technology; Management Eric Chapman Syracuse Sr. D Wallingford, PA 3.835/Political Science; Spanish Language, Literature & Culture Patrick Lonergan St. John’s University Sr. D Millington, NY 3.63/Sports Management Seth Stammler Maryland Jr. D Gahanna, OH 3.83/Finance Marcus Cabrera Belmont Sr. MF Montivideo, Uruguay 3.92/Business Jack Jewsbury Saint Louis Sr. MF Springfield, MO 3.35/Marketing Cliff Patterson UNC-Greensboro Sr. MF Jacksonville, NC 3.68/Business Administration Ablaye Camara Detroit Mercy So. F Conakry, Guinea 3.67/Social Sciences, History Matthew Delicate Virginia Commonwealth Jr. F Wales, UK 3.67/Physics, French Casey Schmidt Boston College Sr. F Newbury Park, CA 3.33/History * Denotes Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – University Division 2002-2003 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® MEN’S SOCCER TEAM College Division First Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Mitch Paterline Pitt. at Greensburg Sr. GK Irwin, PA 3.70/Management Kris Chiles U. of Cal at San Diego Sr. D Poway, CA 3.828/Molecular Biology Michael Lochner** Otterbein College Sr. D Bexley, OH 3.944/Business Administration Matt Spector Quincy Sr. D Carbondale, IL 3.99/Biological Sciences Trevor Svoboda Nebraska Wesleyan Sr. D Lincoln, NE 3.96/Economics Chris Giebink Trinity (TX) Sr. MF Austin. TX 3.9/Engineering Scott Gwartz New York University Jr. MF Yorba Linda, CA 3.95/Sports Management J.D. Pomposelli Univ. of Texas-Dallas Jr. MF The Colony, TX 3.649/Business Administration Angelo Manzo Otterbein College Jr. F Pickerington, OH 3.866/Business Administration Coe Michaelson Albertson College Sr. F East Wenatchee, WA 3.80/Spanish David Vassilaros Muhlenberg Coll. Sr. F Allentown, PA 3.957/Economics Second Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Tony Swaminathan Tusculum College Sr. GK Brampton, Ontario 3.63/Physical Education Matt Loptien Cornell College Sr. D Littleton, CO 3.82/Biochemistry Brian Mann Simpson College Sr. D Omaha, NE 3.921/Math, Computer Science Kamar Samuels East Stroudsburg Jr. D St. Elizabeth, Jamaica 3.915/Business Management Shawn Woodruff Ohio Northern Sr. D Gahanna, OH 3.92/Civil Engineering Jonathan Hughes Kalamazoo College Sr. MF Paw Paw. MI 3.958/Health Sciences Benjamin Jesse Rose Otterbein College Sr. MF Westerville, OH 3.929/Sport Management Duncan Bray Southern Indiana Sr. MF Shetland, Scotland 3.83/Physical Education Clayton Chesarek Rollins College Sr. F Heidelburg, Germ. 3.94/Biology Scot Gill Mount Union Coll. Jr. F Canton, OH 3.938/Business Administration Mike Novotny Martin Luther Sr. F Green Bay, WI 3.81/Theology Third Team Name School Yr. Position Hometown GPA/Major Ben Doyen-Charon Brandeis University Jr. GK Orleans, MA 3.917/Economics Doug Belknap Presbyterian College Jr. D Chattanooga, TN 3.93/Physics, Math, Computer Science Brian Koontz Wheaton (Illinois) Jr. D Kernersville, NC 3.84/Business and Economics David Stahl Texas Lutheran Sr. D Seguin, TX 3.67/Business, Finance Chris Vorenkamp Ohio Wesleyan Sr. D Brutus, MI 3.79/Zoology, Philosophy Rob Battison Lock Haven University Sr. MF Leicester England 3.984/English Literature Bryon Korth Luther College Jr. MF Oregon, WI 3.86/Chemistry, Psychology Kyle Fargen Coe College Jr. MF Appletown, WI 4.0/Biology, Psychology Jorge Chapoy East Stroudsburg Jr. F Mondona, Mexico 3.379/Economics Sean McGinnis Colorado College Sr. F Colorado Springs, CO 3.45/Biology Nick Nestle MIT Jr. F Ormond Beach, FL 4.4/5.0/Electrical Engineering ** Denotes Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – College Division