Clayton State's Yusuf and Dowling Named to NSCAA All-America Teams
December 9, 2005
Morrow, Ga. - For the second consecutive year, Clayton State’s Olaitan Yusuf and Alex Dowling were named to their respective National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America teams Thursday.
Yusuf, a sophomore from Ilorin, Nigeria, was named to the NSCAA first team All-America squad, while Dowling, a senior from Johannesburg, South Africa, was named to the third team. Both selections mark the first time Clayton State has had soccer players named to the All-America squads multiple seasons.
Yusuf, the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and the 2004 PBC Freshman of the Year, led the PBC in scoring with 21 goals on the year. She led the nation in scoring in 2004 with 35 goals and has 56 goals in her two-year career, which ranks second all-time in the PBC. Yusuf, a sophomore, is the only PBC player to ever be named twice to the NSCAA All-America first team.
The Clayton State women’s team finished its season the co-champions and tournament champs of the Peach Belt Conference with a program best 15-3-1 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The Lakers finished the regular season ranked 16th in the nation.
The All-America honor for the Clayton State women’s program is the third in the last two years, as both Yusuf and Nkiru Okosieme were named All-Americas last season.
Dowling, this year’s team captain, was named to the All-America squad again after leading Clayton State’s defense to a .77 goals against average this season, which ranked among the nation’s best. He also scored goals on the year. Clayton State’s defense posted nine shutouts on the season and allowed only six goals in its last 11 matches.
Clayton State’s men’s team finished the season with a 13-4-4 record, advancing to the NCAA National Soccer Championships “Sweet Sixteen” for the second straight year. The Lakers captured their second PBC regular season and tournament titles in 2005 and finished the regular season ranked eighth in the nation.
Dowling is the fourth All-America selection for the Laker program in the last six years. Dowling and Juan Trujillo received the honor last year, while Josh Grenier became Clayton State’s first NCAA Division II All-America in 2000 after the Lakers went 18-3-1. Clayton State’s Stacy Washington was named All-America in 1992 and Adrian Drury in 1996 when the school competed at the NAIA level.
Yusuf and Dowling, along with all the other All-America honorees, will be invited to the NSCAA All-America Luncheon on Jan. 21 as part of the NSCAA convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
