Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Men's Soccer sweeps ASC awards

atias Asorey was named the Atlantic Soccer Conference Player of the Year for the second-straight season while midfielder Lucas Scudeler garnered Rookie of the Year accolades and head coach Karl Kremser picked up Coach of the Year honors as announced today by the league office in Philadelphia. FIU had eight student-athletes selected to the ASC's First and Second teams -- the most Golden Panthers ever to be honored as all-conference in the same season.

Asorey (Miami/Sunset) led the league in scoring with 13 goals and 3 assists to total 29 points this season. The senior striker currently ranks ninth all-time among the Golden Panthers' career scoring leaders with 65 points on 26 goals and 13 assists in four years at FIU. He was also recognized as the conference's best player following his junior campaign.

Scudeler arrived in Miami from Saõ Paolo, Brazil, this fall and made an immediate impact in the Golden Panther midfield. The freshman went on to start 14 contests as FIU's attacking midfielder while netting one goal and assisting on three others - including FIU's first goal of the season.

This is the first time that Kremser has been distinguished as Coach of the Year in the three years that FIU has been a member of the ASC. Currently in his 23rd year at the helm of the program, he was hailed as the Atlantic Sun Conference (then known as the Trans American Athletic Conference) Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1996. Kremser is three wins away from reaching his 300th career victory and has a .614 winning percentage and a 297-180-34 record in 26 years as a head coach.

FIU was well represented on the league's first and second teams. Joining Asorey on the All-ASC First Team were forward John Pulido (Miami/American), attacking midfielder Oscar Gil (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman) and defender Zachary Peoples (Austin, Texas/Bowie). Pulido led the Golden Panthers in assists with eight while also scoring five times to total 18 points. Gil was used interchangeably with Scudeler throughout the season and netted six goals to go along with seven assists for 19 points. Peoples played the leftback position for FIU and contributed one assist.

Scudeler led the Golden Panther contingent on the All-ASC Second Team. Also honored were midfielder Billy Boswell (Tampa, Fla./Gaither) who knotched 10 points on three goals and four assists this season and sweeper Mark Stephenson (Miami/Sunset) who anchored a backline that boasted a league-low 1.09 goals-against average. Goalkeeper Roy Rosenberg (Tel Aviv, Israel) also collected second team honors after leading the ASC with a 1.16 goals-against average.

FIU finished the 2002 regular season with a 12-5-1 record and won the Atlantic Soccer Conference with a 4-0-1 mark in league play. It is the Golden Panthers' second ASC title in the three years it has been a member.

The Golden Panthers will host UCF in first round action of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7:00 p.m., at University Park. For information on purchasing tickets for Friday's game, please call the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or 866-FIU-GAME.

2002 Atlantic Soccer Conference First Team
Matias Asorey, F, So, FIU
Oscar Gil, F, So, FIU
John Pulido, F, Jr, FIU
Rob Catana, M, Jr, Hartwick
Neil McLean, M, Sr, Hartwick
Dave Mitchell, M, Sr, Howard
Ryan Rummery, M, Sr, Oneonta State
Colin Burns, D, Sr, Hartwick
Zachary Peoples, D, So, FIU
Gary Sullivan, D, Jr, Adelphi
Randall Moate, GK, Sr, Hartwick

2002 Atlantic Soccer Conference Second Team
Padraig Drew, F, Fr, Adelphi
Nolan Dzielak, F, So, Philadelphia
Ronald Goodlett, Jr, Howard
Billy Boswell, M, Jr, FIU
Anders Salomonsson, M, Sr, Adelphi
Lucas Scudeler, M, Fr, FIU
Jonathan Westmaas, M, Sr, Hartwick
James Crofts, D, Jr, Oneonta State
Kevin Saunders, D, Sr, Hartwick
Mark Stephenson, D, So, FIU
Roy Rosenberg, GK, Jr, FIU

Player of the Year: Matias Asorey, FIU
Rookie of the Year: Lucas Scudeler, FIU
Coach of the Year: Karl Kremser, FIU