PISCATAWAY, NJ – Senior back Guy Abrahamson (Livingston, NJ) was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American third team. Abrahamson, a second team pick in 2001, is the first repeat All-American for the Scarlet Knights since Pedro Lopes in 1993 and 1994.

This season, Abrahamson started all 19 games in the back, leading a defense that posted five shutouts and allowed just 24 goals in 19 games (1.22 GAA). Abrahamson also added a goal and an assist for four points. He registered his lone goal of the season vs. Villanova (Sept. 25) and added assists vs. ODU (Oct. 6) and Monmouth (Oct. 17). Abrahamson is a three-time all-region selection, including a First Team selection in 2001 and 2002, and a four-time All-BIG EAST honoree.

“Guy enjoyed a strong season for us and was a constant presence through all of our injuries and lineup adjustments,” said head coach Bob Reasso. “He is a very skilled defender and exceptional passer of the ball. We look forward to watching him develop even further during his professional career.”

Abrahamson, a St. Benedict’s Prep product, is likely to be selected in the upcoming MLS Superdraft, 2003 SuperDraft, which will be held on Friday, January 17 at the Kansas City Convention Center (3:30 – 7:30 ET) in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rutgers finished the 2002 season with an 8-8-3 record, including a 5-4-1 mark in BIG EAST play. Rutgers finished the regular season in a tie for fourth-place in the BE standings and saw its season end with a 1-0 loss to Connecticut in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship.

2002 NSCAA/adidas Men’s NCAA Division I All-America Team

Position, Name, Year, School, Hometown

First Team
G, Doug Warren, Sr., Clemson, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
D, Todd Dunivant, Sr., Stanford, Wheat Ridge, Colo.
D, John Swann, Sr., Indiana, Brownsburg, Ind.
D, Chris Wingert, So., St. John's, Babylon, N.Y.
M, Ricardo Clark, So., Furman, Jonesboro, Ga.
M, Sumed Ibrahim, Jr., Maryland, Prospect, Ky.
M, Andres Murriagui, Sr., Loyola-Marymount, Laguna Hills, Calif.
M, Diego Walsh*, Sr., SMU, Miami, Fla.
F, Alecko Eskandarian*, Jr., Virginia, Montvale, N.J.
F, Pat Noonan**, Sr., Indiana, Ballwin, Mo.
F, Tim Pierce, Sr., UCLA, Dana Point, Calif.
F, Mike Tranchilla, Sr., Creighton, Barnhart, Mo.

Second Team
G, William Hesmer, Jr., Wake Forest, Wilson, N.C.
D, Chad Dombrowski, Sr., Wisc.-Milwaukee, Halas Corners, Wis.
D, Kevin Friedland, Sr., SMU, Irvine, Calif.
D, Tim Regan, Sr., Bradley, Orland Hills, Ill.
D, Shavar Thomas, So., Connecticut, Tolland, Conn.
M, Clint Dempsey, So., Furman, Nacogdoches, Texas
M, Chris Goos, Sr., UNC-Greensboro, Houston, Texas
M, Ned Grabavoy, So., Indiana, New Lenox, Ill.
F, Ryan Coiner, Sr., San Diego, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
F, Joseph Ngwenya, Jr., Coastal Carolina, Conway, S.C.
F, Damani Ralph, Sr., Connecticut, Tolland, Conn.
F, Dimelon Westfield, Sr., Clemson, Clemson, S.C.

Third Team
G, Matt Haefner, Jr., Pennsylvania, Amherst, N.Y.
D, Guy Abrahamson, Sr., Rutgers, Essex Falls, N.J.
D, Brent Jacquette, Sr., Penn State, Wallingford, Pa.
D, Guy Melamed, So., Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
M, Kevin Ara, Jr., Harvard, Upland, Calif.
M, Brian Carroll, Jr., Wake Forest, Springfield, Va.
M, Scott Buete, Jr., Maryland, Bowie, Md.
F, Rob Friend, Sr., UC-Santa Barbara, Kelowna, British Columbia
F, Antou Jallow, So., Wisc.-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wis.
F, Nate Jaqua*, Jr., Portland, Eugene, Ore.
F, Roger Levesque*, Sr., Stanford, Portland, Maine
F, Arturo Torres, Sr., Loyola-Marymount, Wilmington, Calif.

* Indicates previous selection