University of Delaware Athletics
Frimpong Earns 2nd Team NSCAA All-American Honors (Dec. 14, 2011)
12/14/2011 3:56:00 PM | Men's Soccer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- University of Delaware men's soccer standout Evans Frimpong became the first Blue Hen to earn All-American honors in 27 years this week as the high-scoring forward garnered a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association All-American second team.
Frimpong (at right), a native of Accra, Ghana who led the Blue Hens to the Colonial Athletic Association title and a berth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month, becomes only the eighth player in school history to gain All-American honors and the first since goalkeeper Dave Whitcraft earned third team laurels in both 1984 and 1985.
Frimpong is the first UD field player and the first second team selection honored since George Caruso was a second team All-American pick in 1978.
“Evans has had a great career here at Delaware and I'm thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved honor,” said Delaware head coach Ian Hennessy. “He is a player who brings so much joy and freedom of expression to the soccer field and plays with such great flair. He thrilled fans and his teammates all season long with his speed and technical ability. He has endless potential. He has the ability to show up to practice every day whether he is injured or not. You can't keep him off the field. That is a quality that you can't coach.”
Last week, Frimpong was one of 15 semifinalist for the Herrmann Trophy, which recognizes the top player in the country. Although he was not selected as one of the three finalists, he became the first Delaware player in school history to advance that far in the voting.
He also earned first team NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region honors last week, joining teammates Roberto Gimenez and Darren O'Connor who were named to the second and third teams respectively.
Frimpong earned CAA men's soccer Player of the Year accolades this fall after leading the Blue Hens with 29 points on 12 goals and five assists this season. He was the first Delaware player to receive the CAA's top award.
He scored two goals in a game five times during the season and his 12 goals were the seventh highest single season total in UD history. He also tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals.
A two-time All-CAA selection, Frimpong helped lead Delaware to its first CAA championship and its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1970.
The Blue Hens, who set a school record for wins this season with a record of 13-6-4 under Hennessy, upset perennial power Virginia, 1-0, in the first round before falling 1-0 at UCLA in the second round. UCLA went on to advance to the national semifinals this past weekend before falling to eventual national champion North Carolina.
Frimpong was one of three CAA players earning All-American honors, joining second team pick Paul Wyatt of James Madison and third team selection Yannick Smith of Old Dominion.
Delaware's seven other All-Americans include Whitcraft, Caruso, Harold Betts (1950 honorable mention), Donald Vansant (1950 honorable mention), Dave Ferrell (1976 and 1977 second team), John McLaughlin (1953 and 1954 honorable mention), and Chip Smallwood (1975 honorable mention).
AGATE:
NSCAA All-American Team:
1ST TEAM: GK - Brian Holt (Creighton); D - Chris Estridge (Indiana), Matthew Hedges (North Carolina), Charles Rodriguez (Charlotte); M - Miguel Ibarra (UC Irvine), Enzo Martinez (North Carolina), Luis Silva (UC Santa Barbara); F - Ashton Bennett (Coastal Carolina), Ethan Finlay (Creighton), Billy Schuler (North Carolina), Andrew Wenger (Duke);
2ND TEAM - GK - Brian Rowe (UCLA); D - RJ Allen (Monmouth), Andrew Duran (Creighton), Kyle Venter (New Mexico); M - Carlos Alvarez (Connecticut), Greg Jordan (Creighton), Lance Rozeboom (New Mexico), Paul Wyatt (James Madison); F - Dom Dwyer (South Florida), Evans Frimpong (Delaware), Darren Mattocks (Akron), Casey Townsend (Maryland).
