Former soccer players honored on MVC All-Centennial team

[PonyPride]

Three former SMU stars selected to Missouri Valley Conference's men's soccer All-Centennial Team

Luchi Gonzalez, Diego Walsh, and Ugo Ihemelu honored

Oct. 26, 2006

St. Louis, Mo. - Three former SMU men's soccer stars have been voted to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Centennial Team, as announced by the league on Thursday. They are forward Luchi Gonzalez (2001), midfielder Diego Walsh (2001-02), and defender Ugo Ihemelu (2001-04).

In 2006-07, the Missouri Valley Conference celebrates a century of excellence as the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference begins its second centennial as a leader in college athletics. As a part of the Centennial Celebration, The Valley is naming all-centennial teams for each of the Valley's sponsored sports.

Team composition for each sport has been determined through an on-line fan vote (www.mvc100.org) and by a centennial committee. A total of 1,931 votes were cast for men's soccer. Fans also designated an all-time coach as part of the on-line voting process.

In the league's first 99 seasons, 32 members combined for 27 national championships, while 55 Valley student-athletes captured NCAA individual titles. In addition, Valley student-athletes and coaches earned 48 National Player or Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. And the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction in The Valley's first century.

MEN'S SOCCER (sponsored 1991 to present): Thirteen different programs (including affiliate members) have sponsored men's soccer in the Missouri Valley Conference including Belmont (2000); Bradley (1991-present); Creighton (1991-present); Drake (1991-present); Eastern Illinois (1996-present); Evansville (1997-present); Illinois State (1991-94); Missouri State (1991-present); Texas Christian (2000); Tulsa (1991-1995; 2000-04); SMU (2000-04); Vanderbilt (1997-2005); Western Kentucky (1997-present).

MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE MEN'S SOCCER ALL-CENTENNIAL TEAM
Name, School, Pos., Last Year in MVC, Notable Honors

Matt Caution, Missouri State, F, 1997 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1993 Newcomer of the Year

Keith DeFini, Creighton, F, 1993 -- 3-time all-MVC; 1993 Player of the Year; All-American

Pedro Delgado, Evansville, M, 1998 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1995 Newcomer of the Year

Chris Dunsheath, Bradley, GK, 2005 -- 4-time all-MVC; 2005 Defensive Player of the Year; All-American

Jay Fitzgerald, Creighton, GK, 1995 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1995 Defensive Player of the Year

Gavin Glinton, Bradley, F, 2001 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1998 Freshman of the Year; 4-time All-American

Luchi Gonzalez, SMU, F, 2001 -- 2-time all-MVC; 2001 MVC and National Player of the Year

Ezra Hendrickson, Drake, D, 1993 -- 3-time all-MVC; All-American; 2-time All-Tournament

Ugo Ihemelu, SMU, D, 2004 -- 3-time all-MVC; All-American; 2004 Tournament MVP

Brian Kamler, Creighton, M, 1993 -- 3-time all-MVC; 1993 Player of the Year; 3-time All-American

Mark Modersohn, Missouri State, GK, 2000 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1999 Defensive Player of the Year

Bryan Mullan, Creighton, F, 2000 -- 4-time all-MVC; 2000 Tournament MVP; All-American

Richard Mulrooney, Creighton, M, 1998 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1998 Player of the Year; All-American

Bryan Namoff, Bradley, M, 2000 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1997 All-Freshman Team; 2000 All-Tournament

Ross Paule, Creighton, M, 1996 -- 3-time all-MVC; 1996 Player of the Year; 1995 Tournament MVP

Ira Philson, Creighton, D, 1993 -- 2-time all-MVC; 1993 Defensive Player of the Year

Ryan Pore, Tulsa, F, 2004 -- 3-time all-MVC; 2-time league MVP; 2004 National Player of the Year

Tim Regan, Bradley, D, 2002 -- 4-time all-MVC; 2002 Defensive Player of the Year; All-American

*Johnny Torres, Creighton, F, 1997 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1996 and 1997 National Player of the Year

Mike Tranchilla, Creighton, F, 2002 -- 3-time all-MVC; All-American; league's all-time leading scorer

Diego Walsh, SMU, M, 2002 -- 3-time all-MVC; 2-time MVC Player of the Year, 2-time All-American

Matt Wieland, Creighton, D, 2005 -- 3-time all-MVC; 2003 Defensive Player of the Year; All-American

David Wright, Creighton, D, 1999 -- 4-time all-MVC; 1997 Defensive MVP; 1999 MVP; All-American

Coach -- Bob Warming, Creighton -- Before 2006 -- 142-47-19, 4 MVC titles; 5 MVC Tournament titles

* denotes No. 1 choice in fan balloting

[J.T.supporta]

Good to see some great SMU talent on that team, especially Ugo and Luchi.

[SMU_is_bowling]

deigo was a good player

[PonyPride]

That's an understatement! Diego Walsh was a marvelous player. I've watched a lot of soccer at SMU, and he might be the best player I've ever seen here. Absolutely amazing.