November 15, 2002
GREENVILLE, SC -- The Furman men's soccer team paced the 2002 All-Southern Conference squad with six selections, while Drew Moor was named Freshman-of-the-Year and head coach Doug Allison was tabbed as Coach-of-the-Year.
Moor was selected as Southern Conference Freshman-of-the-Year as well as receiving a second team nod. Moor started all 18 games for the Paladins, leading the team in minutes played with 1170. He scored a goal and tallied three assists for five points on the season. Moor helped the Paladins to lead the Southern Conference with the lowest goals against average (0.75).
Allison, in his seventh year as the Paladins' head coach, received the Coach of the Year honor. Allison led the Paladins to a perfect record in regular season conference play, compiling a 16-2-1 overall record and a 8-0 mark in the conference. In Allison's previous six seasons, the Paladins have claimed five Southern Conference regular season and four tournament championships, along with several individual accolades, including 21 All-America citations. This is the fifth time that Allison has earned Southern Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors.
Anthony Esquivel, Clint Dempsey, Ricardo Clark, McNeil Cronin, and Andy Kidd each earned first team All-Southern Conference honors.
Senior Anthony Esquivel, from San Antonio, TX, leads the Paladins with tem goals and three assists for 23 total points. Seven of Esquivel's goals this season have been game-winners. Esquivel was named 2001 SoCon Tournament MVP after scoring back-to-back goals in the final 27 minutes against UNCG in the championship game. Esquivel was named to the Clemson/Nike All-Tournament Team.
Sophomore Clint Dempsey, from Nacogdoches, TX, currently has five goals and six assists for 16 total points, ranking him third on the team. Dempsey was named the 2001 SoCon Freshman-of-the-Year. Dempsey was named to the LandRover/Spinx Furman Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Sophomore Ricardo Clark, from Jonesboro, GA, has scored three goals and added two assists this season. Clark scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over South Carolina. Clark was named the Southern Conference Player-of-the-Week and was named to the Soccer America Team-of-the-Week for October 29. Clark has been a consistent starter for the United States Under-20 National Team.
Junior captain McNeil Cronin, from Winston-Salem, NC, has scored three goals and notched one assist on the season. Cronin was named to the College Soccer News Team-of-the-Week for September 30. Cronin was named to the Clemson/Nike All-Tournament Team. Cronin was recognized as the 2000 SoCon Freshman-of-the-Year.
Senior captain Andy Kidd, from Jacksonville, FL, has recorded two assists this season. Kidd has helped to solidify the Furman defense which leads the Southern Conference in goals against average.
The 2002 Southern Conference Men's Soccer Tournament began yesterday as top-seeded Furman defeated Wofford 3-0, earning a spot in Saturday’s semifinals.
2002 Southern Conference All-Conference Teams:
First Team:
Second Team:
Player of the Year:
Freshman of the Year:
Coach of the Year: