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Rosenthal to Join American Men's Soccer
Keeper adds depth to already strong defensive unit

March 21, 2002

WASHINGTON - American University has announced that Jeff Rosenthal (Dallas, TX) has signed a National Letter of Intent and is set to join the program with the start of the fall 2002 semester. The announcement was made by head coach Todd West.

"We are very excited to have a keeper with Jeff's experience and skills join our program, " stated Coach West. "Jeff brings terrific shot-blocking ability, strong leadership and an excellent work ethic to our team."

Rosenthal, a 5-11, 185-pound keeper, spent his senior year at the Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. A three-year North Texas State ODP keeper, Rosenthal played in the North Texas Classic League for three years.

As a junior he started for the U-19 Texas Longhorns '83 Orange, who advanced to the semifinals of the Dallas Cup, as well as the finals of the North Texas State Cup in 2001. He played club ball for Ed Puskarich, a former assistant coach and scout with the Dallas Burn. Rosenthal also toured Europe with Puskarich's Stars & Stripes, earning MVP honors in the 1999 Gothia Cup. He will spend the summer playing for the Texas Spurs PDL team in Dallas.

Rosenthal joins an outstanding class that already includes J.J. King (Damascus, Md./Damascus) and Gordon Templeman (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial).

King, a 5-10, 150-pound forward, led Damascus in scoring his final three seasons. He figured in all 16 of the team’s goals, scoring 13 of the 16, while assisting on three others. A four-year starter and the team’s leading scorer his final three seasons, King was an Washington Post All-Met selection his senior year.

Templeman, at 5-8, 165-pounds, is a very athletic defensive midfielder who can also play as a defender. The captain of the Virginia Olympic Development (ODP) ’84 team, Templeman was also a member of the Region 1 ODP team.

American earned a berth in the 2001 Men’s College Cup by virtue of the Patriot League championships, and advanced to the Sweet 16, where the Eagles finally fell to eventual National Champion North Carolina, 1-0, in overtime. The Eagles advanced to the round of 16 with consecutive wins over Ohio State (2-1), and Wake Forest (3-0), in the first two rounds. It was American’s third trip all-time to the Sweet 16, and first since 1997. The 2001 Patriot League champions, American went 13-7-2 overall in 2001, and 6-1-0 in league play.

The Eagles begin preparation for the fall 2002 campaign with a tough spring schedule that includes matches with D.C. United of Major League Soccer on April 1, Richmond, Seton Hall and Princeton.

American University became a full member of the Patriot League on July 1, 2001. The University, founded in 1893, fields a 19-sport Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.