Nov. 18, 2002
Five Kentucky men’s soccer players earned postseason honors from the Mid-American Conference, it was announced Monday by the league office. Junior Nathan Fleetwood and sophomore Jamal Shteiwi were both named first-team All-MAC, while senior J.D. Stephenson and freshman Dani Kamras earned second-team honors. Kamras also joined junior Chris Austin, an Academic All-MAC selection, on the MAC All-Tournament team.
Fleetwood was one of four 2001 first-team honorees to earn the award again in 2002. The Adelaide, Australia, native missed three games due to injury but still led Kentucky in assists for the second year in a row. Fleetwood was one of only two MAC student-athletes to earn Player of the Week honors twice this season.
Shteiwi led Kentucky in goals and points this season, netting a team-high three game-winning goals. A forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, Shteiwi scored the decisive goal in Kentucky’s MAC quarterfinal victory over Buffalo. He was also tabbed MAC Player of the Week for his efforts at the Furman Invitational, where he was named to the All-Tournament team.
Stephenson is one of three 2001 second-team All-MAC selections to again earn the distinction. He led the Kentucky defense to five shutouts on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., product is second on the career games started list at Kentucky and posted a 9-1 record in four years of MAC Tournament play.
Kamras led the Wildcats in assists and points in their five conference matches. He scored two gamewinners while receiving no bookings all season. The Espoo, Finland, native earned All-Tournament honors in Virginia for leading the Cats past No. 10 Maryland.
Austin scored his first career goal against league-rival Western Michigan to give Kentucky its first conference win of the season. The defensive midfielder from Marietta, Ga., also earned All-Tournament honors at the Furman Invitational. Austin holds a 3.68 GPA in UK’s journalism program.
Marshall’s Byron Carmichael was named MAC Player of the Year, while Akron’s Kirk Harwat earned Newcomer of the Year honors. Bowling Green’s Mel Mahler was named Coach of the Year for leading the Falcons to the regular season title.
