Oct. 23, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA today announced the 11 student-athletes and one head coach selected to the Division I Men's Soccer 50^th Anniversary team.

A list of more than 100 student-athletes and 10 head coaches was narrowed down to 32 and six, respectively, through a voting subcommittee. The finalists were then put on an online ballot and voted on by public through NCAA.com.   

The 11 student-athletes  who make up the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer  50^th Anniversary team are: Jeff Agoos, Virginia; Armando Betancourt, Indiana; Paul Caligiuri, UCLA; Richard Chinapoo, Long Island; Angelo DiBernardo, Indiana; Brad Friedel, UCLA; John Harkes, Virginia; Glenn Myernick, Hartwick; Farrukh Quraishi, SUNY Oneonta; Claudio Reyna, Virginia;  and Al Trost, Saint Louis.

The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer 50th Anniversary coach is Indiana's Jerry Yeagley. Yeagley coached the Indiana men's soccer team from 1973-2003, where he won six NCAA Championships and a Division I record 544 games. He garnered six NSCAA Coach of the Year accolades in 1976, 1980, 1994, 1998, 1999, and 2003. Yeagley has the most NCAA College Cup appearances and wins of any coach in Division I history.

Below are brief bios on each of the 11 student-athletes:

Jeff Agoos, Virginia, 1986-1990

Agoos earned first team All-America honors twice, in 1988 and 1990, and also earned third team and second team honors in 1986 and 1989, respectively. He finished second in Hermann Award voting his senior season. In 1989, his junior year, Virginia went to the NCAA championship game where they became NCAA co-champions with Santa Clara.

Armando Betancourt, Indiana, 1979-1981

Betancourt played three seasons with Indiana, guiding his team to an NCAA College Cup runner-up finish in 1980. He was a first team All-America selection in 1979 and 1981. In his third season with the Hoosiers, Betancourt was at the top of his game. He scored 27 goals and assisted on nine more throughout the season. He also earned the Hermann Trophy as the best collegiate player that year.

Paul Caligiuri, UCLA, 1982-1986

During his four seasons with the Bruins, he earned first team NSCAA All-America (1985 and 1986) accolades. He also captained the Bruins to an NCAA Championship his junior year and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Richard Chinapoo, Long Island, 1978-1981

Chinapoo earned second team All-America recognition in 1978, 1979 and  1980. In 1981, he was selected as a first team All-America. He finished his four seasons with the Blackbirds with 55 career goals and was inducted into the Long Island University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Angelo DiBernardo, Indiana, 1976-1978

DiBernardo had an immediate impact on the Hoosiers during his freshman campaign, as the Hoosiers went 18-1-1 with their lone loss coming in the National Championship game. In 1977, Indiana failed to make the NCAA post-season, but DiBernardo was selected as a first team All America and won the Hermann Trophy in 1978.

Brad Friedel, UCLA, 1990-1992

Over his three seasons at UCLA, Friedel established himself as one of the greatest collegiate goalkeepers. In 1990, he backstopped the Bruins to the NCAA championship. He was selected as the first team All-America goalkeeper in 1991 and 1992 and won the MAC/Hermann Trophy in 1992 as the top collegiate soccer player.        

John Harkes, Virginia, 1985-1987

From 1985 to 1987, Harkes played soccer at the University of Virginia under fellow 50^th Anniversary Team nominee, head coach Bruce Arena. Harkes was named to the NSCAA All-America first team in 1986 and 1987 in addition to earning the MAC/Hermann award in 1987.

Glenn  Myernick, Hartwick, 1974-1976

Myernick had a standout collegiate career at Hartwick College, winning the Hermann Trophy as the sport's outstanding player in 1976. He was a second team All-America in 1974 and earned first team honors in 1976.

Farrukh Quraishi, SUNY Oneonta, 1971-1974

Quraishi, one of the era's best college defenders, was showered with accolades during his career, highlighted by first team All-America honors in 1973 and 1974. He capped this off when he was named the 1974 Hermann Trophy winner.

Claudio Reyna, Virginia, 1991-1993

Reyna was a big contributor to Virginia's NCAA championship titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and also racked up first team All-America honors in the process. He won the Hermann Trophy in 1993 and the MAC Award in 1992 and 1993. In addition  Reyna was named the 1992 and 1993 Soccer America Player of the Year.

Al Trost, Saint Louis, 1967-1970

Trost led the Billikens to the 1969 and 1970 NCAA championships. In 1969, he earned NCAA Tournament Offensive MVP honors. Trost was also a two-time Hermann Trophy recipient as the collegiate player of the year in 1969 and 1970. He was selected as a first team All-America in 1970.

Members selected to the anniversary team will be honored at the 2008 NCAA Men's College Cup in Frisco, Texas, at Pizza Hut Park on Dec. 12-14.