Virginia's Hunter Freeman, Matt Oliver and Nico Colaluca Named Men's Soccer All-Americans
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Feb. 8, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – University of Virginia men’s soccer players Hunter Freeman (Allen, Texas/Bradenton Academy), Matt Oliver (Waldorf, Md./DeMatha Catholic) and Nico Colaluca (Coventry, R.I./Lasalle Academy) were named All-America selections for their past accomplishments for the 2004 men’s soccer season at UVa. Freeman and Oliver were named to College Soccer News’ Second Team and Third Team All-American squads, respectively, while Colaluca was named to Soccer America’s Freshman All-America Team.
This past weekend, Oliver was also drafted by the Columbus Crew in the 2005 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft. Columbus made him the eighth overall pick in the first round.
Freeman, who was recently drafted as the seventh overall pick in the first round by the Colorado Rapids in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, was a third-year defender at Virginia last season (2004). He started all 24 games he appeared in and recorded a team-high 27 points resulting from a team-high 21 assists to go along with three goals. Freeman’s 21 assists was the NCAA’s top mark in 2004 and is a UVa school-record for most assists in a single season at Virginia.
Freeman was selected a 2004 NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-American and was also named a 2004 NSCAA’s All-South Atlantic Region First Team selection. He was named a 2004 First Team All-ACC selection, a 2004 VaSID First Team choice and was also named the ACC Player of the Week on October 25th, selected to Soccer America’s Team of the Week for weeks seven and eight (10/11-10/24) and was named to College Soccer News’ Team of the Week for the week ending October 24th. Freeman was selected to both the 2004 Virginia Soccer Classic and to the 2004 Saint Louis Nike Classic All-Tournament Teams this past season.
Oliver, a fourth-year defender, started 23 of the 24 games he appeared in during the 2004 season for UVa. He recorded 13 points (fourth on the team) resulting from six goals (third on the team) and one assist. One of his goals was a game-winner and he helped the Virginia defense record six shutouts during the season.
Oliver enjoyed a highly decorated playing career at UVa and has garnered multiple awards and honors throughout his career. Aside from being named a 2004 NSCAA Second Team All-American this season, Oliver was also named a First Team All-ACC choice and a NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region First Team choice in 2004.
In 2003, Oliver was named a College Soccer News Third Team All-American, selected as a NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Second Team choice, named a Soccer Times Third Team All-American, named First Team All-ACC and was selected to the ACC All-Tournament Team. He was also twice named to Soccer America’s Team of the Week for Week’s 3 & 12 and was selected to the Virginia Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team and to the Maryland Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team.
In 2002, Oliver was named Second Team All-ACC, selected a NSCAA/adidas South Atlantic Region Second Team choice and was named an Honorable Mention All-America selection by College Soccer News. He was also named to the Virginia Soccer Classic All-Tournament Team and to the Maryland/FILA Classic All-Tournament Team.
In 2001, Oliver was named Second Team All-ACC and was selected to Soccer America’s All-Freshman Team.
Colaluca, a first-year midfielder, started 21 of the 22 games he appeared in during the 2004 season for the Cavaliers. He recorded seven points resulting from three assists (fourth on the team) and two goals. Both of Colaluca’s goals were game-winners. Colaluca was named a 2004 Second Team All-ACC selection and was named to the 2004 ACC All-Freshman Team. He was also named to the 2004 ACC All-Tournament Team.
Freeman, Oliver and Colaluca guided Virginia to a record of 18-5-1 overall, 4-3-0 in the ACC. The trio helped UVa win the 2004 ACC Tournament and directed the Cavaliers to the Quarterfinals of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
— UVa —