Oguchi Onyewu Named Soccer MVP

Jan. 9, 2002

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson men’s soccer player Oguchi Onyewu was named to the Soccer America MVP team as announced by the magazine Wednesday. Only 11 collegiate players are honored by Soccer America.

Despite being a defender for much of year, Onyewu finished the season with seven goals and five assists for 19 points and helped lead Clemson to the NCAA Elite Eight. After scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals against Alabama-Birmingham in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16, he was chosen as the National Player of the Week by College Soccer News. Last November, he was named First-Team All-ACC for the second consecutive year.

He was also named the Defensive MVP of the Clemson Nike Invitational (Sept. 28-30) after leading Clemson to consecutive shutout victories over Cal Poly and 20th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth. For his outstanding performance in that tournament, Onyewu was also named the ACC Player of the Week on October 1. He is also a finalist for this year’s Missouri Athletic Club National Player of the Year award to be handed out in St. Louis on January 11.

Onyewu was second-team All-American by the both the NSCAA and by College Soccer News last month.