Nov. 14, 2002
Old Dominion University junior forward Attila Vendegh (Bratislava, Slovakia) was selected as the 2002 Colonial Athletic Association Men's Soccer Player of the Year in voting by the league's head coaches, becoming the first player to win the award in back-to-back seasons since 1985. Vendegh and Trevor McEachron (Woodbridge, VA) represent the Monarchs on the All-CAA first team.
Vendegh leads the CAA with 15 goals and 36 points this season, ranking among the top 20 players in the nation in both categories. He has either scored or assisted on 21 of the Monarchs' 32 goals. Vendegh also earned CAA Player of the Year accolades in 2001 after registering 15 goals and 36 points and was the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2000 after tallying 15 goals and 33 points. A three-time first-team All-CAA selection, Vendegh already holds the ODU career record for goals (45) and points (105). American University's Michael Brady is the only other two-time CAA Player of the Year, having won the award in 1984 and 1985.
Top honors also went to Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore back Gonzalo Segares as the CAA Defender of the Year, UNC Wilmington freshman midfielder Nick Acosta and George Mason University freshman back Damian O'Rourke as CAA Co-Rookies of the Year and Virginia Commonwealth University head coach Tim O'Sullivan as CAA Coach of the Year.
McEachron earned first team honors this season after making the second team last season as a freshman. He netted the first goal of his career to defeat Ga. State in ODU Stihl Soccer Classic. He started started 17 as a defender this year, helping the Monarchs to hold opponents to one goal or less on seven occasions.
2002 All-CAA Men's Soccer Team(Selected by CAA Men's Soccer Coaches)
First Team
Player, SchoolCl.Pos.Hometown/High SchoolAttila Vendegh, Old Dominion*Jr.FBratislava, SlovakiaMachel Millwood, Towson Sr.FCollege Park, Md./ParkdaleCarlos Garcia, William & Mary*Sr.FCali, Columbia/Colegio BolivarRalph Bean, William & MarySr.MFDevonshire, Bermuda/Warwick AcademyCarlos Garay, Virginia CommonwealthSr.MFWoodbridge, Va./Gar-FieldRandy Ugarte, Virginia Commonwealth*Jr.MFSan Jose, Costa Rica/Instituto TecnologicoArni Gunnarsson, HofstraJr.MFKopavogur, Iceland/Menntaskolinn I KopavogurGonzalo Segares, Virginia CommonwealthSo.DSan Jose, Costa Rica/Anglo AmericanPhillip Hucles, William & Mary#Jr.DVirginia Beach, Va./Norfolk AcademyTrevor McEachron, Old Dominion#So.DWoodbridge, Va./WoodbridgeJohn O'Hara, George Mason#So.GKFoxford, Ireland/St. Jarlaths
Second Team
Player, SchoolCl.Pos.Hometown/High SchoolMatthew Delicate, Virginia Commonwealth#Jr.FWales, U.K./Emlyn Comprehensive SchoolJochen Strobel, HofstraSo.FNuremberg, Germany/University Erlangen-NurembergSteve Alabi, George MasonFr.FRotterham, England/Old HallPatrice Filin, James MadisonSr.FParis, France/Camille SeePete Pittaoulis, DrexelSr.FPhiladelphia, Pa./Roman CatholicBen Munro, James Madison#Sr.MFLiverpool, England/Prince RupertRandy Tolson, TowsonSr.MFBaltimore, Md./Calvert HallNick Acosta, UNC WilmingtonFr.MFHubert, N.C./SwansboroGraham Albert, William & MaryJr.MFWilliamsburg, Va./JamestownCristian Neagu, Virginia CommonwealthJr.DPloiesti, Romania/Liceul IndustrialMilorad Djordjevic, Virginia Commonwealth*Sr.DBelgrade, Yugoslavia/First EconomicDamian O'Rourke, George MasonFr.DShannon, Ireland/St. PatricksJosh Kovolenko, James Madison*Sr.GKFairfax, Va./Oakton
2002 CAA Player of the Year: Attila Vendegh, Old Dominion2002 CAA Defender of the Year: Gonzalo Segares, Virginia Commonwealth2002 CAA Co-Rookies of the Year: Nick Acosta, UNC Wilmington; Damian O'Rourke, George Mason2002 CAA Coach of the Year: Tim O'Sullivan, Virginia Commonwealth
* - All-CAA First Team in 2001# - All-CAA Second Team in 2001