EMAIL THIS PAGE

Todd West Joins U-20 U.S. National Team as Assistant Coach
Eagle head coach continues professional growth

May 13, 2002

WASHINGTON - Todd West , American University's head men's soccer coach, has been named an assistant with the Under-20 US National Team. West will assist Thomas Rongen as the American contingent travels to Holland from May 14-20.

The U-20 US Nationals will face stiff competition while overseas, taking on FC 20 (Qatar's National Team), Newcastle United of the English Premier League, and Cruz Azul. The tournament will take place at Groningen, a professional Dutch club.

Closing out the tour, the Americans will face Burkino Faso, the African Nations champions. The US team is comprised of young professionals from Major League Soccer and Europe, college players, and incoming college freshman.

In just his second season as head coach, West guided the Eagles to the 2001 Patriot League championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament where the club advanced to the Sweet 16, and a final national ranking of 14.

Continuing AU's outstanding tradition in NCAA Tournament play, West and his charges did not disappoint. American advanced to the Sweet 16 where it fell to eventual National Champion North Carolina, 1-0, in overtime. The Eagles advanced after dispatching Ohio State (2-1) and Wake Forest (3-0) in the opening two rounds.

American finished 2001 with a 13-8-2 overall record and a 6-1-0 mark in Patriot League play. The Eagles claimed the league's automatic berth in the NCAAs after advancing past Holy Cross in the championship game on penalties, 4-3. It was American's inaugural season as a member of the Patriot League.

American University is concluding an highly successful inaugural season as a member of the Patriot League. The athletics program captured four team titles (men's soccer, women's volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis), has had five Patriot League Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and over 60 student-athletes named to respective league academic honor rolls. American features a 19-sport Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.

Chartered by an Act of Congress in 1893, the University features students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 160 nations worldwide.