PHILADELPHIA, PA - The La Salle senior captains have made their mark in the Explorer record books and are now, finally, being honored for it as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America released it's all-region honors. Kevin Coleman (Media, PA/Penncrest) was named to the Mid-Atlantic All-Region first team while fellow senior co-captain Stash Graham (Tampa, FL/Jesuit) garnered second team honors.
This is the third post-season award for Coleman who finished the season leading the team in points with 14 total. He was second in assists with six and netted four goals throughout the 2004 season. Coleman was a member of a defensively charged backfield that recorded seven shut outs. Coleman along with Graham led their team to the Atlantic 10 tournament for the first time in seven years.
Following the 2004 season Coleman was named to the Atlantic 10 all-conference first team and earned a spot on the Philadelphia Soccer Seven all-star team. This was the third straight season that Coleman earned Soccer Seven honors. Coleman was named to the A-10 all-rookie team following an impressive freshman campaign and also earned all-conference second team honors in 2003. This is the second year in a row that the NSCAA has honored Coleman as he was named to the Mid-Atlantic all-region second team in 2003.
Graham finished up a storied career at La Salle when the Explorers fell to Temple in the first round of the A-10 tournament. As a four year starter at goal he made his way into every record book at La Salle. On October 4, 2004 in the Explorers 2-0 romping of the University of Massachusetts, Graham passed Mike Kogut (1980-'83) in career shut outs as he tallied his 19th. Graham did not finish there though, he went on to record two more shut outs throughout the season and leaves La Salle with the most career shut outs, posting 21 in his four years in the blue and gold.
Graham also found himself as the leader in games played with 68, passing the current leader Rich Scholer (1989-'92) who has 65. Graham entered the 2004 season fourth in career saves with 352, and in the Explorers first trip to the Atlantic 10 Tournament in seven seasons the senior saved his 106th shot on the season to move into the lead in career saves. He finished the season with 111, making his career total 463. His six shut outs this season ties his total from last season, making him third in shut outs in a season. He holds three records in the La Salle history books and is in the top five in seven categories.
This is the first time the NSCAA has honored Graham in his career at La Salle, but the senior adds this award to several other post-season awards in years past. Graham was named a Philadelphia Soccer Seven All-Star following his first three season at La Salle. As a freshman he was named the Philadelphia Soccer Seven Rookie of the Year and was also named to the Atlantic 10 all-rookie team.
Following a stellar sophomore campaign, Graham was named an Honorable Mention All-America by College Soccer News. He also earned Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named to the A-10 all-conference first team. He finished the 2002 season leading the nation in saves with 156 and saves per game 8.21.
The Explorers finished the season 10-8-1 falling to Temple in the first round of the A-10 Tournament. La Salle started the season off 7-3-1, which was its best start since the 1997 season, also the last time La Salle appeared in post-season play.
