Dec. 15, 2005

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ali Kazemaini, one of the most decorated players in Cleveland soccer history, has been named the head men's soccer coach at Cleveland State University. CSU Director of Athletics Lee Reed made the announcement on Thursday.

Kazemaini, who earned All-America honors as a member of the Viking soccer team in both 1981 and 1983, has served as the head men's soccer coach at John Carroll University for the last 14 years, compiling a 176-76-13 record.

"The return of Ali Kazemaini to Cleveland State is a giant step towards restoring the Viking soccer program to the level of success that it enjoyed when he was a player back in the 1980's," Reed said.

"Ali is a winner. He won as a collegiate player, he was successful in his pro career and he has consistently won during his long head coaching tenure at John Carroll. I now look forward to seeing him use what he has learned over the last two decades to make Cleveland State a winner once again."

Dec. 15, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Always conscious of the "student" in "student-athlete," the Horizon League recognized the academic achievements of its members Thursday (Dec. 15) with the announcement of the 2005 Fall Academic All-Horizon League teams.

A total of 49 student-athletes from five sports were honored in balloting by the League's faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee led the way with 11 selections, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (seven). Butler University and the University of Detroit Mercy each had six student-athletes recognized, followed by Loyola University Chicago and Wright State University (five apiece). The University of Illinois at Chicago boasted four honorees, with Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University receiving three and two awards, respectively.

Four members of UW-Milwaukee's League-Championship squad represent the school on the 12-player Academic All-League men's soccer unit, led by Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree and First-Team All-League selection Neil Dombrowski. The senior has maintained a 3.61 grade-point average as a business major and finished second in the League in scoring with 23 points this season.

Dec. 14, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS -- For the second consecutive season, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), which placed the Panthers 24th in its final poll of the season announced Tuesday (Dec. 13).

The Panthers matched their 24th-place finish from last fall and made their second entry into the top 25 this season. The school was voted 25th in the nation on Oct. 18, 2005, before slipping from the rankings.UW-Milwaukee captured the Horizon League championship for the fourth consecutive year in 2005, edging regular-season titlist University of Detroit Mercy 1-0 in the final to advance to its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament. UWM defeated Bradley University 2-0 in the opening round of the national summit, becoming one of only seven schools to post victories in each of the last four NCAA tourneys.

The Panthers then battled top-ranked University of New Mexico to a 2-2 draw in the second round before the Lobos advanced in penalty kicks (5-3) to end UW-Milwaukee's late-season run. New Mexico finished as the national runner-up, losing to the University of Maryland in the final round.

Senior midfielder Neil Dombrowski and sophomore defender Steve Bode both earned First-Team All-Horizon League notice in 2005, with Dombrowski finishing second in the League with 23 points including nine goals. Freshman goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum led the nation with his 0.47 goals-against average, registering ten shutouts in 16 appearances.

Dec. 14, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola University Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee took a place among the nation's elite soccer programs in one respect Wednesday (Dec. 14) when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America presented its annual Team Academic Awards.

The Horizon League representatives are two of only 13 NCAA Division I schools to have both their men's and women's teams receive the award from the coaches' association. An additional 32 insititutions at the Division II, Division III and NAIA levels also gained dual distinction from the NSCAA, with the awards honoring achievements during the 2004 season and the 2004-05 academic calendar.

A total of 65 men's teams and 246 women's teams garnered recognition through the program, maintaining composite grade-point averages of 3.00 or higher for the academic year, with all players on the roster figuring into the final tabulations. Because the spring semester is included, teams receive the award at the following year's convention, with the latest awards presented at the College Coaches Luncheon during the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia in January.

Dec. 14, 2005

INDIANAPOLIS -- For the second consecutive season, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), which placed the Panthers 24th in its final poll of the season announced Tuesday (Dec. 13).

The Panthers matched their 24th-place finish from last fall and made their second entry into the top 25 this season. The school was voted 25th in the nation on Oct. 18, 2005, before slipping from the rankings.UW-Milwaukee captured the Horizon League championship for the fourth consecutive year in 2005, edging regular-season titlist University of Detroit Mercy 1-0 in the final to advance to its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament. UWM defeated Bradley University 2-0 in the opening round of the national summit, becoming one of only seven schools to post victories in each of the last four NCAA tourneys.

The Panthers then battled top-ranked University of New Mexico to a 2-2 draw in the second round before the Lobos advanced in penalty kicks (5-3) to end UW-Milwaukee's late-season run. New Mexico finished as the national runner-up, losing to the University of Maryland in the final round.

Senior midfielder Neil Dombrowski and sophomore defender Steve Bode both earned First-Team All-Horizon League notice in 2005, with Dombrowski finishing second in the League with 23 points including nine goals. Freshman goalkeeper Grant Fernstrum led the nation with his 0.47 goals-against average, registering ten shutouts in 16 appearances.

Dec. 14, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola University Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee took a place among the nation's elite soccer programs in one respect Wednesday (Dec. 14) when the National Soccer Coaches Association of America presented its annual Team Academic Awards.

The Horizon League representatives are two of only 13 NCAA Division I schools to have both their men's and women's teams receive the award from the coaches' association. An additional 32 insititutions at the Division II, Division III and NAIA levels also gained dual distinction from the NSCAA, with the awards honoring achievements during the 2004 season and the 2004-05 academic calendar.

A total of 65 men's teams and 246 women's teams garnered recognition through the program, maintaining composite grade-point averages of 3.00 or higher for the academic year, with all players on the roster figuring into the final tabulations. Because the spring semester is included, teams receive the award at the following year's convention, with the latest awards presented at the College Coaches Luncheon during the NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia in January.

Dec. 14, 2005

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Horizon League Swimmers of the Week

Alex Dolgov
Wright State, Senior, Columbus, Ohio

Dolgov swam on four winning relays at Tampa, including the 200, 400 and 800 free and the 4 x 100 IM. His split on the 800 free relay was a team-fastest 1:44.54. Dolgov also leads the Horizon League with a time of 4:08.09 in the 400 IM.

Dec. 14, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Another day, another accolade for Cleveland State University senior Nickole Kennedy. On Wednesday (Dec. 14) the Sunbury, Ohio native became only the second volleyball All-America selection in school history, garnering an honorable mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

A member of the 2005 AVCA All-Midwest Region team and the Horizon League Player of the Year, Kennedy topped the League with a .318 hitting percentage and ranked third with 3.83 kills per game while leading the Vikings to their best season in over two decades (19-10, 11-3). During League competition, those numbers increased to 4.11 kills per game on a .323 hitting percentage, along with 1.15 blocks per game.

During the season, Kennedy recorded double-digit kills in 18 matches, including five with 20 or more, capped off by a season-high 23 kills, a .390 hitting percentage and five blocks in a Viking loss to Wright State in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship.

Kennedy was the only League player to be recognized with honorable mention status. Her selection marks the second consecutive season in which a Viking has earned the honor, with former middle-blocker Jamie Bouyer being recognized in 2004. Bouyer was joined on last year's list by Areal Bienemy of Butler University, Lauren Holbrook of Loyola University Chicago and Karen Fruit of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Each year, the AVCA recognizes 100 student athletes with All-America honors. The First, Second and Third-Teams all consist of 12 players, while 64 are awarded honorable mentions.

AVCA All-America list

Dec. 14, 2005

Chicago, Ill.- On Dec. 12th the University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Intercollegiate Athletics celebrated the holiday season with young patients and their families at the department's annual Hospital Party at the University of Illinois Medical Center on the west side of campus.

The event featured the biggest turnout ever in the history of the party, as 133 UIC student-athletes and 27 staff members attended the party to bring gifts and spend time with children receiving medical care at the hospital.

Many of the volunteers also opted to donate blood at the blood drive held at the hospital during the event.

In addition to spending time with the children and their families, numerous UIC teams and staff members made donations for gifts to give to the kids.

"The 133 student-athletes and 27 staff members in attendance represent the largest volunteer group effort in UIC Athletics history," said UIC Associate Athletic Director Denny Wills. "This makes me proud to be a UIC staff member."

Story provided by John Jaramillo, UIC Sports Information

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Dec. 12, 2005

Horizon League Player of the Week

Ryan Evanochko, UW-Green Bay
Junior * Guard * Beaver Falls, Pa.
Evanochko averaged 25.0 points and 6.5 assists per game in two appearances last week. The junior point guard scored a (then) career-high 22 points with six helpers versus Wisconsin and came back with 28 points to lift the Phoenix past Montana State, 75-73. Evanochko also matched his career-best with seven assists against the Bobcats. For the week, the Beaver Falls, Pa., native shot 61 percent (17-of-28) from the floor and 74 percent (14-of-19) from the charity stripe in his two games.

Other Top Performances for the Week Ending December 11