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Dec. 6, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia men’s soccer player Alecko Eskandarian (Montvale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) and James Madison University head coach Dr. Tom Martin have been selected as Virginia’s Men’s Soccer Division I Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, in voting by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). UVa’s Jonathan Cole (Annapolis, Md./McDonogh) and Kyle Martino (Westport, Conn.Staples) joined Eskandarian as first team selections, while Steve Totten (Allentown, N.J./Peddie) was named to the VaSID second team.
Eskandarian, a first-year forward, took Player of the Year honors in a close vote among himself, Richmond senior defender Craig Ziadie and George Mason senior forward Eduardo Lima. Eskandarian tied a Virginia freshman record by scoring a team-high 16 goals, and set a new UVa record for most points scored by a freshman in a single season after recording a team-high 38 points for the Cavaliers. He also tied for the team lead with six assists and started 22 of the 24 games he appeared in. Eskandarian was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and was an All-ACC First-Team selection, was chosen as the ACC Player of the Week (Sept. 4) and to the Soccer America Team of the Week (Sept. 11). Virginia reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals and finished the season with a record of 17-6-1 overall, 5-1-0 in the ACC.
Cole, a second-year defender, started all 24 games for Virginia this season and recorded 10 points resulting from four assists and three goals. One of UVa’s top defenders, Cole was also named to the 2000 ACC All-Tournament team.
Martino, a second-year midfielder, started all 22 games he appeared in this year for UVa. He finished fifth on the team in scoring with 14 points resulting from a team-high six assists to go along with four goals. Martino was named First Team All-ACC and was selected to the 2000 ACC All-Tournament team. He was chosen a Second Team Preseason All-American by Soccer America and is one of 15 players selected as a Hermann Trophy finalist. Martino was also named to Soccer America’s Team of the Week (Sept. 6) and was the MVP of the Virginia Soccer Classic Tournament.
Totten, a third-year midfielder, was UVa’s lone second team selection. He started all 21 games he appeared in and finished third on the team in scoring with 21 points resulting from eight goals and five assists. Totten was also a Second Team All-ACC selection and was one of Virginia’s most consistent players this season.
Martin earned VaSID Coach of the Year honors for the third time (also in 1989 and ’93) as he guided James Madison to the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship, a berth in the CAA Tournament finals and to the Dukes’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1996. In his 15th season with the Dukes and 24th overall as a head coach, Martin was selected as the CAA Coach of the Year after leading James Madison to a 17-4-1 overall record (6-3 against Virginia teams).
Virginia and James Madison each had three players selected to the first team, while George Mason, Liberty, Old Dominion, Richmond and William & Mary each had one. Ziadie and Lima were both named to the first team for the third time, while Virginia’s Martino was also a repeat selection.
Here is a look at the VaSID All-Virginia selections:
Player of the Year: Alecko Eskandarian (Fr.) Virginia
Coach of the Year: Dr. Tom Martin, James Madison
First Team VaSID All-State
Defenders:
Jonathan Cole Soph. Virginia
Kevin Knott Sr. William & Mary
Levi Strayer Jr. James Madison
Craig Ziadie Sr. Richmond
Midfielders:
Kian Brownlee Sr. Liberty
Kyle Martino Soph. Virginia
Carlos Mendes Jr. Old Dominion
David Wood Sr. James Madison
Forwards:
Alecko Eskandarian Fr. Virginia
Eduardo Lima Sr. George Mason
Goalkeeper:
Josh Kovolenko Soph. James Madison
Second Team VaSID All-State
Defenders:
Derek Avilez Sr. Liberty
Brian Blackburn Sr. George Mason
Ryan Cummins Sr. Virginia Tech
Caleb Stoddart Jr. William & Mary
Jon Tihen Sr. Richmond
Midfielders:
Helmis Matute Fr. George Mason
Reggie Rivers Jr. James Madison
Andrew Schultz Sr. William & Mary
Steve Totten Jr. Virginia
Forwards:
Jose Gomez Sr. Liberty
Fred Silva Jr. Virginia Tech
Attila Vendegh Fr. Old Dominion
Goalkeeper:
Shawn Alexander Jr. Richmond