Seniors Graham, Polak Named 1st-Team; Lead Contingent of Four Toros on All-Region Soccer Squads
Senior Okuma, junior Rivas net 2nd-team honors to round out honorees
November 30, 2006

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills seniors Jesse Graham (San Diego, CA/Pt. Loma HS) and Kyle Polak (Huntington Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) both were named to the 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Men’s Soccer Far West 1st-team, it was announced earlier by the NSCAA. Shogo Okuma (Okinawa, Japan/ELAC) and Sammy Rivas (Long Beach, CA/CS Fullerton) garnered 2nd-team accolades. With their 1st-team honors, Graham and Polak both are eligible for All-America honors, to be announced next month.

Graham, the Toros’ only four-year letter-winner, garnered his second 1st-team All-Region award after picking up a Daktronics 1st-team all-region nod earlier this month. The San Diego native, who was selected to the All-CCAA’s 1st-team for his third-career conference honor, also claimed his first CCAA Player of the Week award in the regular season’s final weekend to help CSUDH secure the 4th and final spot in the conference tournament. Graham also moved into 4th on the CSUDH all-time assist list, 9th on the all-time points list, and 10th on the all-time goals list as he led the Toros with 8 goals, 6 assists and 22 points.

Polak, a three-year starter for CSUDH, also earned his second 1st-team All-Region honor after being named a Daktronics 1st-team selection earlier this month. Polak established himself as arguably the greatest keeper in the storied history of the CSUDH men’s soccer program, setting marks for the most wins and most shutouts in a career. A three-time All-CCAA honoree, the Huntington Beach native capped his Toro legacy by earning the 2nd-lowest goals against average mark in a CSUDH career, also boasting a league-leading 9 shutouts and a paltry 0.82 GAA.

Okuma received his first-career NSCAA All-Region honor after consistently creating offensive opportunities and impeding attacking offenses, also earning his first All-CCAA 2nd-team honor last month. Rivas notched his first-career NSCAA All-Region honor, also a month after being selected to the All-CCAA 2nd-team in his second campaign as a Toro, finishing the 2006 campaign tied for 7th in goals and 8th in points.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, which claimed its 7th CCAA Championship on October 29 with a 2-1 win over cross-town rival Cal State L.A., had the most honorees with four, and tied with the most 1st-team selections with two. Of the 22 total players honored, 16 were from the CCAA Conference.