Men's Soccer: Noble, Smith Named All-Americans
December 01, 2006 04:28 PM | General
November 29, 2006
 |
||
| Nick Noble |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University men’s soccer players Nick Noble and Jarrod Smith made program history today as they were named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America team.
The duo becomes the first to earn All-America status for WVU since goalkeeper Jon Capon did so in 1981. They are the first teammates to do so for West Virginia in the same year since defender Pat Sullivan and forward Walt Nistorenko in 1968. The other two Mountaineers to ever be named All-American’s were midfielder Ron McEachon in 1967 and defender Joe Okhakhu.
Noble was one of six BIG EAST players on the NSCAA’s 12-man first team All-America team, while Smith was the only conference representative on the second team.
Noble wrapped up one of the greatest careers in WVU soccer history in 2006. The Damascus, Md., native ranked nationally throughout the season in goals against average (.63) and save percentage (.864). Noble holds career marks at WVU in matches played (80), goals against average (.88), shutouts (37) and minutes played (7,179), while ranking third in career saves (292).
The goalkeeper is just the third player in program history to be named first team All-America.
 |
||
| Jarrod Smith |
Smith, a native of Havelock North, New Zealand, scored 14 goals in 15 matches this season to go along with four assists. The senior forward set the BIG EAST single season conference goals record in 2006 with 12 and the single season conference point record with 28. Smith netted 32 goals in four seasons for WVU, tied for fifth all-time in school history. He is tied for third in school history in career matches played with 74.
Both players return to the soccer pitch in little over a month when they participate in the MLS Player Combine held at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 5-8. The nation’s top 58 seniors in Division I soccer were invited to participate.
2006 NSCAA/adidas Men's Collegiate All-America Team NCAA Division I
First Team
Pos., Name, Cl., School, Hometown
K, Nick Noble, Sr., West Virginia, Damascus, Md.
D, Andrew Boyens *, Sr., New Mexico, Dunedin, New Zealand
D, Julius James *, Jr., Connecticut, Maloney Gardens, Trinidad
D, Jay Needham, Sr., SMU, Fort Worth, Texas
D, John O'Reilly, Sr., Lehigh, Arlington, Mass.
M, Greg Dalby *, Sr., Notre Dame, Poway, Calif.
M, Maurice Edu, Jr., Maryland, Fontana, Calif.
M, Ryan Maduro, Jr., Providence, Bristol, R.I.
F, Omar Cummings, Sr., Cincinnati, Old Harbour, Jamaica
F, Charlie Davies, Jr., Boston College, Manchester, N.H.
F, Edson Elcock, Sr., Old Dominion, Brooklyn, N.Y.
F, Joseph Lapira, Jr., Notre Dame, Lake Charles, Calif.
Second Team
Pos., Name , Cl., School, Hometown
K, Tally Hall *, Sr., San Diego State, Gig Harbor, Wash.
D, Andy Iro *, Jr., UCSB, Liverpool, England
D, Steve Purdy, Sr., California, San Jose, Calif.
D, Julian Valentin, Jr., Wake Forest, Lancaster, Pa.
M, Eric Avila, So., UCSB, Encinitas, Calif.
M, Nico Colaluca, Jr., Virginia, Coventry, R.I.
M, Sinisa Ubiparipovic *, Sr., Akron, Mentor, Ohio
M, Sal Zizzo, So., UCLA, San Diego, Calif.
F, Dane Richards, Sr., Clemson, Montego Bay, Jamaica
F, Tonci Skroce, Sr., Illinois-Chicago, Zadar, Croatia
F, Jarrod Smith, Sr., West Virginia, Havelock, New Zealand
F, Michael Todd, Sr., Hofstra, Cleveland, England
Third Team
Pos., Name , Cl., School, Hometown
K, Chris Seitz, So., Maryland, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
D, Ty Harden, Sr., Washington, Junction City, Ore.
D, Aaron Hohlbein, Sr., Wisconsin, Middleton, Wis.
D, Joe Verdi, Sr., Lehigh, Ivyland, Pa.
M, John DiRaimondo, Sr., Saint Louis, St. Louis, Mo.
M, Bruno Guarda, So., SMU, Piracicaba, Brrazil
M, Scott Jones **, Sr., UNC-Greensboro, Dallas, Texas
M, Josh Tudela, Sr., Indiana, Evansville, Ind.
M, Mike Videira, Jr., Duke, Milford, Mass.
F, Brad Evans, Sr., UC Irvine, Phoenix, Ariz.
F, Sebastian Haensel, Sr., Towson, Leipzig, Germany
F, Steven Holloway, Sr., Monmouth, Hamilton, New Zealand
F, Joshua Okoampa, Sr., Wisconsin-Green Bay, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
* indicates prior selections
