Nov. 17, 2004
The West Coast Conference today announced that USF sophomore forward Aaron Chandler has been named "WCC Player of the Year" and that head coach Erik Visser has been "Coach of the Year." USF also placed Chandler, Chris Schwarze and Rob Valentino on the all-WCC First Team. The 14th ranked Dons will host Wisconsin Milwaukee Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in a first round NCAA playoff contest at Negoesco Stadium.
Chandler led the conference with 12 goals this season, seven of them gamewinners. All but one of his game-winners came in games that USF won by just a single goal, many late in the game.
Visser took a team that was predicted to finish fifth in the league and took it to the top, winning nine of its last 10 games. He has built a young team that brings much of its lineup back intact next season.
USF also placed three players on the conference's second team including GK Geremy Uhl, who led the the league in shutouts and goals against average; defender Luis Arguilar and midfielder Chris McDonald. Defender Kevin Long was named WCC Honorable Mention.
Named to the all-freshman team were McDonald and Valentino.
The Dons return all of the players honored today, with the exception of senior midfielder Chris Schwarze, who was named to all-WCC for the third time.
WCC Honors:
Player of the Year: Aaron Chandler, San Francisco
Freshman of the Year: Michael Gavin, Portland
Defensive Player of the Year: Matt Kovar, Loyola Marymount
Coach of the Year: Erik Visser, San Francisco
First Team
Aaron Chandler, USF - SO - F - Riverside, CA Matt Kozar, LMU - SR - D - Palos Verdes Estates, CAKevin Wilson, USD - SR - MF - San Juan Capistrano, CAMedhi Ballouchy, SCU - SO - MF - Casa Blanca, MoroccoArni Pjetursson, GON - SR - F - Reykjavik, IcelandMatt Fitzgerald, SMC - SO - F - Castro Valley, CALuis Robles, POR - SO - GK - Sierra Vista, CAMichael Caso, USD - SO - MF - Newhall, CARyan Guy, USD - SO - MF - Carlsbad, CAJosh Brown, POR - JR - D - Portland, OR Chris Schwarze, USF - SR - D - Camarillo, CARob Valentino, USF - FR - D - Cave Creek, AZ Will Weatherly, SCU - SR - F - Bellevue, WA
Second Team
Miguel Guante, POR - JR - MF - Ft. Huachaca, AZNick Blanco, LMU - FR - MF - Littleton, COAlejandro Salazar, POR - JR - F - Portland, ORBrian Mason, SMC - FR - GK - Laguna Nigel, CA Brandon McDonald, USF - FR - F - Glendale, AZ Heath Pearce, POR - JR - MF - Modesto, CAArmando Melendez, LMU - JR - MF - Los Angeles, CAJason Pan, SCU - D - SR - Milwaukee, WIDiego Barerra, LMU - FR - MF - Thousand Oaks, CA Geremy Uhl, USF - SO - GK - Cypress, CALuis Aguilar, USF - JR - D - Long Beach, CA
HONORABLE MENTIONGeorge Josten, GON; Rob Anderson, GON; Peter Lowry, SCU; Keith DeVey, SCU; Derek Youpel, SMC; Michael Brewer, LMU; Diego Rovira, SMC;Kevin Meissner, USD; Ryan Purtell, SCU; Michael Gavin, POR; Matthew Dallman, POR; Hector Guzman, SCU; John Palladino, GON; PaulRobinson, POR; Kevin Long, USF; Sean Rhynard, LMU; Tommy Van Bromson, USD.
All-Freshmen Team
Nick Blanco, LMU - Littleton, CODiego Barerra, LMU - Thousand Oaks, CA Brandon McDonald, USF - Glendale, AZ Michael Gavin, POR - Scottsdale, AZBrian Mason, SMC - Laguna Nigel, CABrett Hiroto, USD - Riverside, CAMatthew Dallman, POR - Hood River, OR Rob Valentino, USF - Cave Creek, AZ Peter Lowry, SCU - Fair Oaks, CAGeorge Josten, GON - Idaho Falls, IDMatt Hatzke, SCU - San Jose, CA