SCU's Ballouchy Named All-American
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Generally considered one of the top playmakers in college soccer, Santa Clara University junior Mehdi Ballouchy continues to validate that label as he was honored today by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a first-team selection on the 2005 NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I All-America squad.
He joins Mark Hunter (1981), Dave Palic (1988), Cameron Rast (1989, 1991) and Eric Denton (1999) as Santa Clara's first-team All-America selections.
Ballouchy, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year, is the first native Moroccan student ever to attend Santa Clara University and is one of four foreign-born players on the SCU squad -- Hector Guzman (San Jose, Costa Rica), Ted Kristensson (Ludvika, Sweden) and Mutanda Kwesele (Mufulira, Zambia). Senior Kelechi Igwe and freshman Jide Ogunbiyi both have Nigerian ties as well.
A semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded by the Missouri Athletic Club to the nation's top college soccer player, Ballouchy started 21 of 22 matches this season and tied for the team lead with seven assists. His only goal was the game-winner against Saint Mary's in overtime.
Santa Clara, which ranked as high as fourth nationally during the season, finished the season with a 13-6-3 overall record and a 6-4-2 mark and second place finish in the WCC. The Broncos went 7-1-1 at home during the season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. SCU defeated Ohio State by a score of 1-0 at home before playing to a scoreless draw at Cal in the second round. The Bears advanced in the tournament by virtue of a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks.
The honorees will be invited to the NSCAA All-America Luncheon, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, as part of the 2006 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
Pos., Name, Cl., School, Hometown
First Team
G, Chris Dunsheath, Sr., Bradley, Rockford, Ill.
D, Gregory Dalby, Jr., Notre Dame, Poway, Calif.
D, Tyson Wahl, Sr., California, Newport Beach, Calif.
D, Marvel Wynne, So., UCLA, Poway, Calif.
M, Mehdi Ballouchy*, Jr., Santa Clara, Casablanca,
Morocco
M, Scott Jones*, Jr., UNC-Greensboro, Dallas, Texas
M, Yohann Mauger, Sr., Akron, Rennes, France
M, Brian Plotkin, Sr., Indiana, Lisle, Ill.
F, Jason Garey*, Sr., Maryland, Gonzales, La.
F, Ross McKenzie, Sr., Akron, Whangamata, New Zealand
F, Jeff Rowland*, Sr., New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
F, Willie Sims, Jr., Cal State-Northridge, Los Angeles, Calif.
Second Team
G, Phil Marfuggi, Jr., Clemson, Manalapan, N.J.
D, Patrick Ianni, Jr., UCLA, Lodi, Calif.
D, Julius James, So., Connecticut, Maloney Gardens, Trinidad
D, John Latting, Sr., Davidson, Birmingham, Ala.
M, Blake Camp*, Sr., Duke, Danielsville, Ga.
M, Dax McCarty, So., North Carolina, Winter Park, Fla.
M, Ryan McMahen, Sr., Michigan State, Munster, Ind.
M, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Jr., Akron, Mentor, Ohio
F, Ryan Anderson, So., Missouri State, St. Charles, Mo.
F, Calen Carr, Sr., California, Berkeley, Calif.
F, Duke Hashimoto, Sr., Southern Methodist, Kapolei, Hawaii
F, Aaron King, Sr., North Carolina State, Denver, Colo.
F, Randi Patterson*, Jr., UNC-Greensboro, Hackensack, N.J.
Third Team
G, Tally Hall, Jr., San Diego State, Gig Harbor, Wash.
D, Andrew Boyens, Jr., New Mexico, Dunedin, New Zealand
D, Andy Iro, So., UC-Santa Barbara, Liverpool, England
D, Nathan Sturgis, So., Clemson, St. Augustine, Fla.
D, Matt Wieland, Sr., Creighton, Omaha, Neb.
D, Jed Zayner, Jr., Indiana, Orland Park, Ill.
M, Mike Chabala, Sr., Washington, Fresno, Calif.
M, Matt Groenwald, Sr., St. John's, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
M, Lance Watson, Sr., New Mexico, Nederland, Texas
F, Brian Cvilikas, Sr., Old Dominion, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
F, Willy Guadarama, So., Campbell, Cedar Park, Texas
F, Sascha Kljestan*, Jr., Seton Hall, Huntington Beach, Calif.
F, Jacob Peterson, Jr., Indiana, Portage, Mich.
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Lowry Named To National Team of the Week
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After scoring Saturday's game-winner against Ohio State on a memorable, curling free kick in the 47th minute, Santa Clara University junior Peter Lowry was named to College Soccer News' National Team of the Week.
Lowry's goal proved to be the only score of the first round NCAA Tournament match. With the win, the Broncos advanced to Tuesday's second round match at seventh-seeded Cal. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, Calif. The winner will face the winner of Wake Forest at Old Dominion.
"Peter has been an extremely solid player for us all year and it isn't a surprise that he made the big play when we needed it," said SCU head coach Cameron Rast. "He has had a great season and, I think, he is one of the steadiest central midfielders in college soccer this year."
A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Lowry was fouled by OSU's all-Big Ten Conference midfielder Brent Rohrer just outside the top of the penalty area. After placing the ball and watching referee Scott Weyland move the Buckeyes' four-man wall 10 yards away, he curled a hard-hit shot over the top of the wall, past the outstretched arms of keeper Ray Burse and into the upper left corner of the goal.
He was a second-team all-West Coast Conference selection as a sophomore this season after registering three goals and four assists during the regular season. He was successful on all three of his penalty kick tries this year, including two in a 3-2 victory over then second-ranked UCLA in the season-opener at Fullerton.
The Broncos are 13-6-2 on the season and qualified for an at-large berth NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in school history after finishing second in the WCC.
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Ballouchy Listed Among Nation's Best
Earlier in the week, Santa Clara University junior midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. Today it was announced that he is among the 15 semifinalists being considered for the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in intercollegiate soccer.
Ballouchy is among the roster of top intercollegiate players selected by a panel of NCAA Division I coaches to comprise the selection pool for 2005. The award, which is the official National Soccer Coaches Association of America Player of the Year award for Division I competition, is regarded as college soccer's version of the Heisman Trophy.
The winner will be determined in voting by NSCAA Division I member coaches. Three men's and three women's finalists for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy will be announced at the 2005 Men's College Cup on Dec. 9. The finalists will be invited to the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, for the announcement of the winner at a press conference which will be telecast live by ESPNews. Both winners will be presented the prestigious crystal soccer ball trophy at a banquet later that evening.
An exhibition featuring the current winners and past winners of the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy is on display at the National Soccer Museum in Oneonta, N.Y.
Santa Clara is 12-6-2 on the season and plays Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday at Buck Shaw Stadium. Tickets to the 7 p.m. match are available by calling 408/554-4660 or at the gate. Prices are $8 for adults and $6 for youths, seniors and students from the participating schools.
2005 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalists
Mehdi Ballouchy, Jr., MF, Santa Clara, Casablanca, Morocco
Greg Dalby, Jr., MF, Notre Dame, Poway, Calif.
Jason Garey, Sr., F, Maryland, Gonzales, La.
Matt Groenwald, Sr., Gk, St. John's, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Patrick Ianni, Jr., MF UCLA, Lodi, Calif.
Aaron King, Sr., F, North Carolina State, Denver, Colo.
Sacha Kljestan, Jr., MF, Seton Hall, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Justin Moose, Sr., F, Wake Forest, Statesville, N.C.
Randi Patterson, Jr., F, UNC-Greensboro, Hackensack, N.J.
Jacob Peterson, Jr., F, Indiana, Portage, Mich.
Brian Plotkin, Sr., MF, Indiana, Lisle, Ill.
Jeff Rowland, Sr., F, New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
Michael Videira, So., MF, Duke, Milford, Mass.
Marvell Wynne, So., D, UCLA, Poway, Calif.
Jed Zayner, Jr., D, Indiana, Overland Park, Ill.
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2005 West Coast Conference Postseason Honors
Player of the Year: Mehdi Ballouchy, Santa
Clara
Defender of the Year: Rob Valentino, San
Francisco
Freshman of the Year: Michael Clegg, Saint
Mary's
Co-Coaches of the Year: Einar Thorarinsson,
Gonzaga & Erik Visser, San Francisco
All-WCC First Team
Luis Aguilar, USF; Sean Babcock, POR; Mehdi Ballouchy,
SCU; Michael Clegg, SMC; Carlos Diaz, SMC; Hector
Guzman, SCU; George Josten, GON; Kevin Meissner, USD; Luis
Robles, POR; Rob Valentino, USF; Junior Ybarra, LMU
All-WCC Second Team
Aaron Chandler, USF; Matt Fitzgerald, SMC; Miguel Guante, POR; Ryan
Guy, USD; Kelechi Igwe, SCU; Peter Lowry,
SCU; Scott Martin, USD; Armando Melendez, LMU; Ben Sawyer,
GON; Geremy Uhl, USF; Tommy Von Bromsen, USD
All-WCC Honorable Mention
Mike Bagheri, USF; Bobby Burling, LMU; Jimmy Burling, LMU; Stephen
Carlson, LMU; Michael Caso, USD; Alex Christlieb, SMC; Drew
Chrostek, POR; Jawaan Delaney, LMU; Keith DeVey,
SCU; Trini Gomez, LMU; Jeff Griffin, POR; Vito Higgins,
GON; Kevin Long, USF; Brian Mason, SMC; Brandon McDonald, USF; Matt
Mejia, LMU; Jide Ogunbiyi, SCU; Sam Reeder, USD;
Calle Rehndahl, USD; Jeff Scott, SCU; Mark Stock,
GON; Kevin Sweeney, SCU
All-Freshman Team
Mike Bagheri, USF; Drew Chrostek, POR; Michael Clegg, SMC; Jawaan
Delaney, LMU; Ben Dessard, USF; Carlos Diaz, SMC; Alex Elliott,
POR; Chris Hoyd, GON; Scott Meslin, GON; Jide Ogunbiyi,
SCU; Sam Reeder, USD