Two All-Americans, One Team

South Euclid, OH – November 30, 2004 - It's a rare opportunity for collegiate athletes to be honored as NAIA All-Americans, and the odds of such an award being presented to a Notre Dame College athlete is even less, until now. With this week's announcement of the 2004 Men's Soccer All-America Team, not one, but two Falcon players were voted to honorable mention status. Junior midfielder Chris Loughlin, a native of Bishopton, Scotland, and freshman forward Frank Jonke, a native of Toronto, Canada, were the two honorees to make history for the Falcons.

Prior to this year, only four All-America honors have been bestowed upon Falcon athletes, and not once has there been more than one honoree within the same year, let alone from the same team. Of the four honors given throughout college history, two honors went to men's soccer player Jeremy Kephart, a repeat honorable mention award winner in 2001 and 2002.

"I'm over the moon that Chrisy and Frank were both honored as All-Americans this past season," said fourth-year head coach Michael McBride. "I think it is a fair reflection of how far we've come in a short amount of time. The fact that we are now attracting All-American caliber players bodes well for the future of our program."

Loughlin was ranked eighth in NAIA Region IX this season and Jonke was voted into the ninth spot. Both earned All-American Mideast Conference North Division First-Team honors.

For the season, Loughlin recorded nine goals and nine assists.

"Chris is one the most gifted players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching," said McBride. "He is not only a very good player, but he is an extremely humble young man, too. He is everything an All-American should be and I fully expect Chrisy to be playing at a very good level after his college career finishes."

Jonke documented a league and region-leading 24 goals and 50 points in 18 games.

"Frank has been a revelation since his arrival," said McBride. "In his first season in college soccer, he managed to lead the region in goals and points scored per game. The fact is, he's only going to get better and I can't believe we have him for another three seasons."

Loughlin and Jonke helped lead the Falcons to an AMC North Division co-championship this season. It was the second title for Notre Dame in the program's four-year history.

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