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AU Overwhelming Favorite to Repeat in Men’s Soccer
Defending Patriot League Champions start regular season Friday

Aug. 26, 2002

Senior Larry McDonald looks to lead the Eagles to their second consecutive Patriot League title and NCAA Tournament in 2002.

WASHINGTON — After capturing the Patriot League Championship in its first season in the league, American University’s men’s soccer team was voted to repeat after being chosen as the preseason favorite by the Patriot League coaches and sports information directors.

The Eagles fell just short of being the unanimous pick of the league, earning 13 out of 14 possible first-place votes (coaches and SIDs were not allowed to vote for their own team). Lehigh was picked second in the league while Holy Cross was third.

The 2001 Patriot League Champion Eagles advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in school history. American made an improbable run to the Sweet 16, where it fell to eventual National Champion North Carolina, 1-0, in overtime. The Eagles finished with a record of 13-8-2 and a No. 14 NSCAA/adidas national ranking.

American opens the 2002 campaign by hosting the second annual D.C. College Cup at Reeves Field. The classic format will pit the Eagles against Howard in the season-opener on August 30 at 2:30 p.m., followed by a match with Georgetown on September 1, also at 2:30 p.m.

Five Eagles who earned All-League honors last year return, including senior midfielders Kris Bertsch (Clinton, N.J./Pingry), Kris Kuykendall (Fairfax, Va./Madison) and senior defender and All-America candidate Larry McDonald (Waddel Village Trinidad/Presentation).

Also returning for AU is second-team honoree, goalkeeper Michael Behonick (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot) and 2001 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, sophomore forward Andrew Herman (Oceanside, N.Y./Oceanside).

American University is beginning its second year of membership in the Patriot League. In its inaugural year it captured league championships in men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s tennis and women’s tennis, and regular-season titles in men’s basketball and women’s lacrosse. The University fields a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women’s sports and nine for men.

American became a full member of the Patriot League on July 1, 2001. 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.

2002 Patriot League Men's Soccer Preseason Poll