Nov. 14, 2002

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Tiger freshmen Omar Jarun, Dayton O'Brien and Daniel Ronan were each named to the league's All-Freshman squad, while senior defender Chris Schmidt earned Second-Team All-Conference USA honors, while as announced by the league office.

Schmidt has captained the Tigers for the past two seasons and led a Tiger squad that finish the season with a 10-7-1 record. The 6-3 senior has been the backbone of Memphis defensive unit for the past three season and has started in each of the last 51 matches he has appeared in dating back to his freshman season. He scored 20 points for the Tigers in his final campaign and was named to the Verizon Academic All-District IV squad for the high standards of performance he maintains in the classroom. "Chris is very deserving of this award," said head coach Richie Grant. "He has been an excellent player for us for four years. He has had the finest senior year of any player that I have ever coached."

Although young and inexperienced, the Tigers proved that they are a talented group with a bright future as for the first time in school history, three freshmen received All-Freshman honors.

Omar Jarun received the honors "Omar was one of our top recruits and is the focal point of how we want to attack opposing teams," said Grant. He saw action in all 18 of Memphis's matches this year and scored nine points on two goals and five assists. Jarun tallied multiple assists in the Tigers' under-manned 2-1 victory over Northeastern en route to the 2002 Memphis-Diadora title.

O'Brien, an ECS product, had a solid freshman campaign in which he led the Tigers, and ranked in a fifth-place tie in the league, in assists with seven. He also ranked in the conference top -10 in shots and assists per game. He saw action in all 18 matches this year, including 15 starts at the left midfield position. He made his first career goal a memorable one, when his penalty kick proved to be the game-winner in Memphis's 3-2 conference-opener against TCU. "Dayton is our most gifted player," said Grant. "He is one of the most exciting players to watch in the C-USA." O'Brien finished the year with 13 points on seven assists and three goals.

Freshman Daniel Ronan rounds out the Tiger trio. A freshman for Blanchardstown, Ireland, Ronan led the league's most potent offense in points (25) and goals (11). He also ranked third in the conference in shots (56), and goals, while ranking fourth in points. Ronan had one the best seasons by a first-year Tiger in U of M history. His 11 goals were the most by a Tiger freshman since Morten Akerfors scored 17 goals in 1987. Has registered three multi-goal games, including scoring five goals in a three-game stretch. "Daniel is a goal scorer and if he works on other facets of his game he will be First-Team All-Conference.

Saint Louis forward Jason Cole received C-USA Player of the Year honors after leading the league in goals (16) and points (37).

For the first time ever the conference named Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, received by Louisville's Adrian Cann and Steve Lawrence of Marquette.

Louisville head coach Tony Colavecchia was named the C-USA Coach of the Year after leading the Cardinals to its best-ever finish in league play at 6-3-1 . All-C-USA Teams are as follows:

First-Team All-Conference USA		         All-Freshman (No position restriction)
F:	Jason Cole, Saint Louis	                      Hunter West, South Florida
F:	Hunter West, South Florida	              Cooper McKee, Saint Louis
F: 	Flavio Montiero, UAB	                      Omar Jarun, Memphis
MF:	Jack Jewsbury, Saint Louis	              Jelani Grant, Louisville
MF:	Joe Hammes, Saint Louis	                      Jarrett Devereaux, Cincinnati
MF:	Marin Pusek, UAB	                      Floyd Franks, Charlotte
MF:	Jeff Thwaites, South Florida	              Dayton O'Brien, Memphis
D: 	Adrian Cann, Louisville	                      Daniel Ronan, Memphis
D:	Steve Lawrence, Marquette	              Danny Wynn, Saint Louis
D:	Nick Gannon, Saint Louis	              Brad Sokolowski, Louisville
GK:	Clint Baumstark, UAB	                      Matthew Neely, Louisville

Second-Team All-Conference USA			        Freshman of the Year
F:	Simon Bird, Louisville	                         Hunter West, South Florida
F:	Derek Gutierrez, Marquette
F: 	Mira Mupier, Charlotte	                        Co-Defensive Player of the Year
MF:	Nick Walls, Saint Louis	                         Adrian Cann, Louisville
MF:	Mike Robards, Marquette	                         Steve Lawrence, Marquette
MF:	Josh Gardner, Cincinnati
MF:	Tim Brown, Cincinnati	                        Player of the Year
D:      Chris Schmidt, Memphis	                         Jason Cole, Saint Louis
D:	Kevin Wickart, Saint Louis
D:	Jared Vock, South Florida	                Coach of the Year
GK:	Troy Perkins, South Florida	                 Tony Colavecchia, Louisville

Second-Team All-Conference USA
F:	Wiremu Patrick, Cincinnati
F:	Luke Rojo, DePaul
F: 	Eric Marshall, Marquette
MF:	Clyde Simms, East Carolina
MF:	Mike Robards, Saint Louis
MF:	Mike Kirchoff, Charlotte
MF:	Fernando Tolomelli, Louisville
D: 	Tom Nolan, Marquette
D:	Brandon Dobbs, Cincinnati
D:	Tony McManus, UAB
GK:	Martin Hutton, Saint Louis