Virginia Men's Soccer Players Alecko Eskandarian and Matt Oliver Selected to 2002 NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Regional Teams

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Dec. 3, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s soccer team had two players selected to the 2002 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas All-South Atlantic Regional Teams. UVa forward Alecko Eskandarian (Montvale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) and Cavalier defender Matt Oliver (Waldorf, Md/DeMatha Catholic) were both named to the squads. Eskandarian was selected to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region First Team and Oliver was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Second Team.

Eskandarian was selected to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region as a First Team choice for the third consecutive year, while Oliver was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region squad for the first time in his career. Eskandarian and Oliver both helped to guide Virginia to a record of 15-7-0 overall, 3-3-0 in the ACC this past season and led UVa into the second round of the 2002 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship.

Eskandarian, a third-year forward, started all 20 games he appeared in this season. He scored a team-high 25 goals this year and dished out four assists to rack up a total of 54 points on the season. Eskandarian’s 25 goals this year set a new UVa school-record for the most goals scored in a single season at Virginia. His 54 points this year was the fourth highest single season total ever at Virginia and his six game-winning goals this year is tied for the sixth highest single season mark for a Cavalier. For his career, Eskandarian has recorded 113 points which is sixth all-time at Virginia, scored 50 goals which is fourth all-time at UVa and has scored 16 game-winning goals which is the third most in a career for a Cavalier.

Oliver, a third-year defender, started all 22 games he appeared in this season. He helped Virginia post seven shutouts this season including a stretch of three consecutive games on two separate occasions in 2002. Oliver also scored one point this season resulting from an assist. For his career, Oliver started all 39 games he has appeared in and has helped the UVa defense record 18 shutouts over the past two seasons of play. Last season (2001), Oliver and the Cavalier defense helped Virginia become the first team ever in the ACC to win all of its conference games by shutout. Oliver has also recorded two career points resulting from two assists.

2002 NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region First Team

Name			School			Position		YearAlecko Eskandarian	Virginia			Forward		JUNIORCarlos Garcia		William & Mary		Forward		SeniorMachel Millwood		Towson			Forward		SeniorAbe Thompson		Maryland		Forward		SophomoreRalph Bean		William & Mary		Midfielder	SeniorScott Buete		Maryland		Midfielder	JuniorSumed Ibrahim		Maryland		Midfielder	JuniorMilorad Djordjevic		VCU			Defender		SeniorNiall Lepper		Loyola			Defender		SeniorGonzalo Segares		VCU			Defender		SophomoreRob Beatty 		Loyola			Goalkeeper	Senior

2002 NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Second Team

Name			School			Position		YearMatt Oliver		Virginia			Midfielder	JUNIORDerek McElligott		UMBC			Forward		SophomoreMatt Osborne		George Washington	Forward		SeniorDaryl Roberts		Liberty			Forward		FreshmanAttila Vendegh		Old Dominion		Forward		JuniorCarlos Garay		VCU			Midfielder	SeniorShawn Kuykendall		American		Midfielder	SophomoreBen Munro		James Madison		Midfielder	SeniorPhil Hucles		William & Mary		Defender		JuniorLarry MacDonald		American		Defender		SeniorJohn O'Hara		George Mason		Goalkeeper	Sophomore

2002 NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Third Team

Name			School			Position		YearPat Filin			James Madison		Forward		SeniorArnar Johannson		George Washington	Forward		JuniorKenny Jonmaire		Virginia Tech		Forward		SophomoreTodd Rolfing		Radford			Forward		SeniorTim Bezbatchenko		Richmond		Midfielder	JuniorLasse Mertins		Virginia Tech		Midfielder	JuniorPeer Rogge		Virginia Tech		Midfielder	FreshmanTrevor McEachron		Old Dominion		Defender		SophomoreChristian Neagu		VCU			Defender		JuniorSeth Stammler		Maryland		Defender		JuniorJosh Kovolenko		James Madison		Goalkeeper	Senior	

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