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Mount Vernon Nazarene University |
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MVNU Men's Soccer Players Earn NCCAA All-American Honorswritten by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director
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MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Four members of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University men's soccer team were recently honored by the National Christian College Athletic Association when the 2002 All-American Teams were announced.
Highlighting the list for the Cougars is senior goalkeeper Trevor Knowles, who was selected to the NCCAA All-American First Team for the second straight year. Knowles, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, posted a career-best 0.97 goals against average this season and helped MVNU post nine shutouts as a team. The former Westerville North High School standout also scored one goal on a penalty kick in the team's final match of the season.
"What a great way to close out a stellar career," said MVNU men's soccer coach Paul Furey. "This award is the capstone to an individual who helped our program achieve new heights, and it could not go to a more humble or quality person. I am extremely happy for Trevor, his accomplishments, and his family, who are very proud of him."
Knowles and the other members of the NCCAA All-American First Team will be honored along with NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA All-Americans at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas All-American luncheon on January 18, 2003, in Kansas City, Missouri.
MVNU teammates Matt Packard, Jamie Hilen, and Jeffery Hinds were also named to the NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention Team for their efforts in 2002.
Packard, a sophomore midfielder from Avon Lake, Ohio, led the Cougars with 14 goals and eight assists. The former All-Ohioan at Avon Lake High School also started all 23 matches for MVNU and led the team with 36 points.
Hilen, a sophomore defender from West Chester, Ohio, was an integral part of the Cougars' defense that allowed just 22 goals (a school record) in 23 matches. The former Lakota East High School standout played in all 23 matches with 22 starts and averaged 80 minutes per match.
Hinds, a freshman forward from Kingston, Jamaica, was second on the team with 11 goals and seven assists in his first collegiate season. The former star at Kingston College High School led MVNU to a third-place finish at the NCCAA National Tournament by scoring four goals in the Cougars' three tournament matches.
MVNU finished the 2002 campaign with a 15-8-0 overall record as the Cougars won eight of the team's final nine matches. MVNU also made its fourth appearance in the NCCAA National Tournament in the past five years and finished third out of eight teams.