Nov. 10, 2005

Fairfax, Va.--Senior Anthony Noreiga (D; San Fernando, Trinidad) became the first men's soccer player in George Mason history to be named Colonial Athletic Association Defender of the Year, which was voted on by the league's head coaches and announced Thursday evening at the men's soccer banquet in Norfolk, Va. Seniors Karim Manneh (Banjul, Gambia) and Teba McKnight (Couva, Trinidad) also collected conference accolades as both forwards were named to the All-CAA Second Team.

Noreiga anchored a Patriot defense that recorded five shutouts this season, including four in CAA play. Mason limited seven of the 11 conference foes to one goal or less. A three-year starter, Noreiga scored his fourth career goal and his lone goal of the 2005 campaign in Mason's season-opening 3-2 win at Liberty (Sept. 2). The Trinidad native was named to the adidas/Brown Classic All-Tournament Team on Sept. 11 in Providence, R.I. and this marks Noreiga's first postseason conference honor in his three-year career at Mason.

Manneh played in 17 of Mason's 18 games this season and finished the year tied in first among his teammates with four goals and second in points with nine. One of Manneh's four goals this season was when he scored the overtime goal to propel Mason to a 1-0 win over Penn State on Sept. 24, 2005. Manneh played wo seasons with the Patriots, saw action in 37 games and was in the starting line-up in 30 of those contests.

McKnight started every game during the 2005 campaign and finished first among Patriots in points (12), as well as assists (4) and tied Manneh in goals with four. McKnight scored a goal and dished out an assist to help lead Mason to a 3-2 victory over Drexel (Oct. 23) and also netted two goals in the Patriots 3-1 win over La Salle (Sept.20). Along with Noreiga, McKnight was named to the adidas/Brown Classic All-Tournament Team on Sept. 11, 2005. This marks McKnight's second-straight All-CAA Second Team nod as the senior forward was named to this team in 2004.

The Patriots finished the year seventh in the CAA with a conference mark of 3-3-4 and an overall record of 7-7-4.

2005 All-CAA Men's Soccer Team
(Selected by CAA Men's Soccer Coaches)
2005 CAA Player of the Year:  Brian Cvilikas, Old Dominion
2005 CAA Defensive Player of the Year:  Anthony Noreiga, George Mason
2005 CAA Rookie of the Year:  Trevor Banks, Old Dominion
2005 CAA Coach of the Year:  Alan Dawson, Old Dominion
First Team
Player, School
Brian Cvilikas, Old Dominion#		Sr.	F
Michael Todd, Hofstra*			Sr.	F
Sebastian Haensel, Towson		Jr.	F
Chris Cox, Hofstra			So.	MF
Kurt Morsink, James Madison*		Jr.	MF
Edson Elcock, Old Dominion		Jr.	MF
Stephen Shirley, VCU			Sr.	MF
Anthony Noreiga, George Mason		Sr.	D
Veit Schaidinger, VCU#			Sr.	D
Trevor McEachron, Old Dominion		Sr.	D
John Connelly, Old Dominion		Sr.	GK
Second Team
Player, School				Cl.	Pos.
Teba McKnight, George Mason#		Sr.	F
Sam Leger, UNC Wilmington		Sr.	F
Karim Manneh, George Mason		Sr.	F
Pat Healey, Towson			So.	MF
Constantinos Christoudias, Hofstra#	Jr.	MF
Matthijs Maruanaya, VCU			So.	MF
Chris Murray, UNC Wilmington		Jr.	MF
Mike Tuddenham, James Madison		Jr.	D
Gary Flood, Hofstra			Jr.	D
David Horst, Old Dominion		So.	D
Sergio Saccoccio, Northeastern		Sr.
* - All-CAA First Team in 2004	# - All-CAA Second Team in 2004

2005 CAA Men's Soccer All-Rookie Team
Player, School				Cl.	Pos.
Trevor Banks, Old Dominion		Fr.	MF
Dathan Knott, Georgia State		Fr.	F
Matthijs Maruanaya, VCU			So.	MF
Tim Masters, UNC Wilmington		Fr.	F
Corey Gudmundson, Hofstra		Fr.	D
Andrew Konopelsky, Northeastern		Fr.	MF
Andrew Hoxie, William & Mary		Fr.	F
T.J. Jager, Towson			Fr.	MF
Andrew Dykstra, VCU			Fr.	GK
Nick Zimmerman, James Madison		Fr.	MF
Yomby William, Old Dominion		Fr.	D
Filipe Carvalho, Georgia State		Fr.	GK