UIC's Dundjer, Loyola's Ferguson earn Third-Team All-America accolades from NSCAA

Dec. 17, 2007

Complete Release in PDF Format

Indianapolis, Ind. -- While the 2007 collegiate soccer season came to a close Sunday (Dec. 16), two Horizon League players stepped into the spotlight as members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-America teams, sponsored by adidas.

University of Illinois at Chicago senior midfielder Pavle Dundjer and Loyola University Chicago sophomore forward Michael Ferguson were honored as Third-Team selections, giving the League a pair of All-America performers for the second year in a row.

Dundjer made Horizon League history this fall, becoming the first player to earn First-Team All-League honors four times. His five goals and three assists helped UIC compile a 13-6-6 overall record that included the school's first Horizon League championship since 2000. The Flames evenutally reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, marking the League's furthest entry since 1990.

Dundjer closed his UIC career with 24 goals and 13 assists (61 points) in 78 appearances. He follows in the footsteps of former teammate Tonci Skroce, who earned Second-Team recognition from the association last fall.

Ferguson was named the League's Player of the Year this fall and shared the League lead with 15 goals while finishing second on the loop charts with 32 points. The sophomore hit the net in five consecutive matches in mid-October---all against League competition---to power Loyola to the regular-season League title with a 5-1-2 loop ledger. The Ramblers finished the season with a 10-5-4 overall mark.

Ferguson ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 0.79 goals per game and ninth with 1.68 points per outing. Only two Division I players scored more than Ferguson's 15 goals this season. He is one of only five sophomores to earn All-America recognition from the NSCAA this fall.

The NSCAA honor is the second of the year for Ferguson, who also earned Third-Team recognition from College Soccer News magazine last week. He will enter the 2008 campaign with career totals of 20 goals and 43 points.

National champion Wake Forest University placed three players on the All-America teams, including senior defender Pat Phelan as a First-Team selection. Ohio State University, which lost the national title match 2-1 on Sunday, features a pair of First-Teamers in senior defender Eric Brunner and senior forward Xavier Balc.

Boston College, the University of Connecticut, and the University of California also boast two First-Team honorees apiece. Junior midfielders Reuben Ayama and Alejandro Jacobson represent BC with senior defender Julius James and junior forward O'Brian White as the UConn tandem. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei---the lone sophomore on the First-Team---and senior midfielder Andrew Jacobson comprise the Cal contingent.

The rest of the First Team includes Santa Clara University senior midfielder Peter Lowry, University of Notre Dame senior forward Joseph Lapira and Virginia Tech junior forward Patrick Nyarko.

Note: The NSCAA All-America teams can be found in the PDF version of this release.