Nov. 16, 2005
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San Bruno, Calif. - The 2005 men's soccer season was one of the most balanced campaigns in conference history, as four different teams entered the final weekend of play with a shot at the WCC regular season title. The league's parity was reflected in the conference's yearly awards, with all seven programs being represented on the All-WCC first team and players and coaches from four different schools taking home individual honors.
Santa Clara's Mehdi Ballouchy became the fourth Bronco to be named WCC Player of the Year, and the first SCU player since Jeff Stewart in 2001 to take home the yearly award. San Francisco's Rob Valentino became the first Don to ever earn WCC Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading USF to its second straight conference title, while Saint Mary's scoring sensation Michael Clegg received WCC Freshman of the Year recognition after finishing second in the league with 11 goals in his rookie campaign. Clegg is the second Gael in the last three seasons to be named as the conference's top freshman, following teammate Matt Fitzgerald who took home the honor in 2003.
For the first time since WCC conference play began in 1988, the league had two coaches share Coach of the Year honors. San Francisco's Erik Visser was tabbed for Coach of the Year recognition for the second straight season, while Gonzaga's Einar Thorarinsson was honored as the Coach of the Year for the third time after receiving back-to-back awards in 1996 and 1997.
First Team
Luis Aguilar, USF - SR - D - La Mirada, CA
Sean Babcock, POR - SR - M - Corvallis, OR
Mehdi Ballouchy, SCU - JR - M - Casablanca, Morocco
Michael Clegg, SMC - FR - F - Santa Clarita, CA
Carlos Diaz, SMC - FR - M - Napa, CA
Hector Guzman, SCU - SR - F - San Jose, Costa Rica
George Josten, GON - SO - F - Idaho Falls, ID
Kevin Meissner, USD - JR - M - San Diego, CA
Luis Robles, POR - JR - GK - Sierra Vista, AZ
Rob Valentino, USF - SO - D - Cave Creek, AZ
Junior Ybarra, LMU - JR - M - Santa Barbara, CA
Second Team
Aaron Chandler, USF - JR - F - Riverside, CA
Matt Fitzgerald, SMC - JR - M - Castro Valley, CA
Miguel Guante, POR - SR - M - Ft. Huachuca, AZ
Ryan Guy, USD - JR - M/F - Carlsbad, CA
Kelechi Igwe, SCU - SR - F - Belmont, CA
Peter Lowry, SCU - SO - M - Fair Oaks, CA
Scott Martin, USD - SR - M/D - San Diego, CA
Armando Melendez, LMU - SR - M - Los Angeles, CA
Ben Sawyer, GON - JR - D - Spokane, WA
Geremy Uhl, USF - JR - GK - Cypress, CA
Tommy Von Bromsen, USD - SR - D - Gothenburg, Sweden
Honorable Mention
Mike Bagheri, USF; Bobby Burling, LMU; Jimmy Burling, LMU; Stephen Carlson, LMU; Michael Caso, USD; Alex Christlieb, SMC; Drew Chrostek, POR; Jawaan Delaney, LMU; Keith DeVey, SCU; Trini Gomez, LMU; Jeff Griffin, POR; Vito Higgins, GON; Kevin Long, USF; Brian Mason, SMC; Brandon McDonald, USF; Matt Mejia, LMU; Jide Ogunbiyi, SCU; Sam Reeder, USD; Calle Rendahl, USD; Jeff Scott, SCU; Mark Stock, GON; Kevin Sweeney, SCU
Player of the Year: Mehdi Ballouchy, Santa Clara
Freshman of the Year: Michael Clegg, Saint Mary's
Defensive Player of the Year: Rob Valentino, San Francisco
Co-Coaches of the Year: Einar Thorarinsson, Gonzaga & Erik Visser, San Francisco
All-Freshman Team
Mike Bagheri, USF - M - West Covina, CA
Drew Chrostek, POR - D - Corvallis, OR
Michael Clegg, SMC - F - Santa Clarita, CA
Jawaan Delaney, LMU - M/D - Long Beach, CA
Ben Dessard, USF - F - Saumur, France
Carlos Diaz, SMC - M - Napa, CA
Alex Elliott, POR - F - Vancouver, B.C.
Chris Hoyd, GON - F - Boise, ID
Scott Meslin, GON - M - San Diego, CA
Jide Ogunbiyi, SCU - F - Gwynedd, PA
Sam Reeder, USD - D - Lewisville, TX