Lauren Cheney (Indianapolis, Ind.) has become the first player to earn the NSCAA/adidas National Player of the Year award for girls Youth and High School player in the same year, while a pair of recruits to Indiana University have claimed the boys honors.
Cheney helped her Ben Davis High School team to the state semifinals for the first time in school history in 2005. She also was a member of the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team that claimed the championship at the 2005 Nordic Cup and is a four-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America.
The NSCAA/adidas Boys High School National Player of the Year is Eric Alexander of Portage (Mich.) Central High School. Michigan's Mr. Soccer for 2005, he will be joined at Indiana University next fall by the NSCAA/adidas Boys Youth National Player of the Year, Ofori Sarkodie of Dayton, Ohio. Sarkodie started all 10 of his international matches for the U.S. U-17 Men's National Team in 2005, pushing his total of caps to 31.
All three honorees will be recognized at the All-America Luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 21, held in conjunction with the 2006 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
High School Boys – Eric Alexander, Portage (Mich.) Central High School
A four-time all-conference selection, Alexander led his Portage Central team to the regional final the past two seasons. Michigan’s Mr. Soccer for 2005, he also is a two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America for Vardar 88, which claimed a pair of State Cup titles and advanced to the USYS National Championship last summer. He will play at Indiana University next year.
High School Girls – Lauren Cheney, Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
Cheney is the first player, male or female, to win both the NSCAA/adidas High School and Youth National Player of the Year awards in the same season. A two-time NSCAA/adidas High School All-America selection, she was named the 2005 Indiana State Player of the year, the Marion County Player of the Year and a three-time West Player of the Year by the Indianapolis Star. Her efforts helped Ben Davis earn its first trip to the state semifinals. She will play for UCLA next year.
Youth Boys – Ofori Sarkodie, Dayton, Ohio
Sarkodie has started in 82 of the 87 matches he’s played with the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team, including all 31 of his international appearances, 10 of them in 2005. Played every minute of three qualifying matches for the U-17 World Championships, anchoring a U.S. defense that allowed only two goals. He has three international goals to his credit. He will play at Indiana University next fall.
Youth Girls – Lauren Cheney, Indianapolis, Ind.
Cheney is the first player, male or female, to win both the NSCAA/adidas High School and Youth National Player of the Year awards in the same season. A four-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-America, she was a member of the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team that won the 2005 Nordic Cup and has been on the U-17 and U-20 national teams. Her club team, the CUSC Heat, has won the Indiana state title each year since 2001.
