University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Men's Soccer Holds Annual Awards Banquet
January 30, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Jan. 30, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Coming off a 17-4-3 season and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals, the University of North Carolina men's soccer program held its season-ending awards banquet Friday, Jan. 27 at the Carolina Inn. Sophomore defender Andre Sherard claimed the Mike Thompson Most Valuable Player Award to headline the Tar Heels' honorees.
In addition to Sherard's award, junior defender Ted Odgers claimed the Nicholas Douglass Potter Coaches Award, junior defender David Boole won the Tom Evins Jr. Most Improved Player Award and senior midfielder Ty Allison brought home the Mercer Reynolds Tar Heel Award.
Additionally, junior defender Michael Harrington earned the Most Competitive Player Award and senior goalkeeper Ford Williams claimed the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award.
Around 120 Carolina soccer supporters were in attendance, including a number of alumni. Alumni speakers were Matt Laycock, class of 2001, Fred Parker, class of 1961, and Steve Dawson, class of 1974. Allison and Williams, the Tar Heels' two seniors from this past season, also addressed the crowd.
In Sherard, Odgers, Boole and Harrington, all four of Carolina's starting defenders were honored for a record-setting season. The Tar Heels allowed just 17 goals in 24 games and posted a 0.68 goals against average, which led the ACC and ranked 13th nationally. UNC notched a school-record 15 shutouts, and set a school record with eight in a row, a string of more than 906 scoreless minutes. Sherard and Harrington also earned second-team all-conference honors.
Carolina was ranked No. 7 in the final NSCAA/adidas poll and No. 10 by Soccer America.
The Tar Heels should be back in the ACC and national title hunt in 2006, as 10 starters return. The lone starter lost is midfielder Dax McCarty, who was selected sixth in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by FC Dallas.
