Men's Soccer Honors Continue to Roll In
Senior first team All-American forward Juan Carlos Bolanos was named the NSCAA/Adidas Division II National Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Bolanos lead the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team to their first ever National Championship. In 23 games this past season, Bolanos scored 46 points on 18 goals and 10 assists. He also registered 6 game-winning goals on the year.
"I am really proud to have earned this honor," states Bolanos. "With so many great players in the country for me to be selected at the top is very special. This is an award I will always cherish."
His point total this season broke the CSUDH 18-year old all-time record of 42 points set by Mike Brocki in 1982. "J.C.'s a real special player," states head coach Joe Flanagan. "A talent of his caliber doesn't come around very often. We were very fortunate to be able to have him as a member of the Toro family for two years. This is a special honor that is well deserved."
In just two short seasons, Bolanos leaves the program with his name spread all over the Toros' record books. He is the second all-time leading scorer with 86 career points just three points shy of the mark set by Joe Flanagan (now coach) from 1987-90. He is now the all-time leader for most points in a season with 46 this year. He also ranks second in career assists (16), third in career goals (35), third in season goals (18) and third in season assists (10).
This honor culminates a series of awards bestowed upon Bolanos this year. First he was selected as the 2000 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Player of the Year. Then he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) First Team All-America squad in early December along with two of his teammates.
Bolanos and senior midfielder Alex Bengard were selected to the first team while junior defender Joe Cartlidge garnered second team laurels.
Cartlidge, widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the CCAA, earned second team honors after posting 9 points this year on 3 goals and 3 assists. Cartlidge is one of the main reasons why the Toros only allowed 21 goals in 25 games for a goals allowed average of 0.80.
Flanagan has
now coached five All-Americans in his seven-year tenure. However, Bolanos
and Bengard are the first two earning first team honors. Ryan
Robertson (1995) and Chris Fernandez
(1998) were selected to the NSCAA second team squad.
Graduate Student Sworn in as Police Captain
Graduate student Mike Brooks was recently sworn in as the new captain of the Oceanside Police Department. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune (Jan. 3), Brooks was sworn in and given his badge and bars during a ceremony on January 2. He most recently worked as an LAPD lieutenant and retired in December after 20 years of service. The paper reported "Brooks' swearing in makes him the highest-ranking black member of the department, which became the center of controversy after Mayor Terry Johnson last month said racism and sexism are rampant in the departmentChief Michael Poehlman said it was Brooks' experience and 'his commitment to continually improve' that set him apart from other candidates. He was interested in being part of an organization that was very connected to its community." The paper also reported that Brooks is one class away from receiving his master's degree in negotiation & conflict management at CSU Dominguez Hills.
Students Selected for Research Program
Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (USTAR) students David Puerta and Luis Campos were recently accepted to the Introduction to Biomedical Research Program (IBRP), sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) branch of National Institutes of Health (NIH). The IBRP program is designed to attract the most promising students to the field of biomedical research. Only 60 students are selected nationwide to attend the program, which will take place in Bethesda, MD February 5-9.
Soccer Player Called Up to Play For Mexican National Team
Freshman goalkeeper Alba Garcia was called up by the Mexico National Team to participate in their game against the United States in Houston, on Dec. 10. Garcia, a redshirt freshman from Don Lugo High School in Chino, CA, has been a member of the Toros program for the past two seasons. Two years ago she was granted a medical redshirt from the NCAA for a hand injury suffered early in the year.
"I'm really excited to get this opportunity," said Garcia before the game. "It is a great honor and I will do my best to represent my home country of Mexico."
This past year Garcia put together a solid season playing in 11 games while starting in 9 of them. She allowed only 6 goals in 796 minutes played for a 0.68 goals against average ranking her third among goalies in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Garcia allowed only 6 goals all year registering 3 shutouts and compiling a 5-2-2 overall record.
"Alba is one of the best keepers we have had in our program," said CSUDH head coach Karen Hanks. "She has a lot of range, is quick and has great hands. But more importantly, she knows how to organize her defense and reads the game extremely well.
Student Ordained as Minister
Senior Armond McDaniels Jr., sociology, was ordained as a Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) minister on Saturday, Dec. 10. On that day, he gave his first message at the Pentecostal Temple C.O.G.I.C. in Compton, where he also teaches Sunday School. McDaniels is the president of the CSU Dominguez Hills Toros' Christian Fellowship.
Students Attend Research Symposium
Seven students of the CSUDH Office of Minority Student Research Programs' (MSRP) "Community of Scholars" attended the annual meeting of the National Minority Research Symposium (NMRS) at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., on November 8-11. NMRS is a forum designed to increase the number of ethnic minority students who are highly motivated and prepared to enter field of biomedical research.
Scientists, graduate school admissions representatives, recruiters and health-related federal agencies attend NMRS to introduce students to programs, research training and employment opportunities. Established scientists also attend this symposium to present their most recent findings to the students and/or provide instructional workshops.
Another focus of NMRS is the Poster Sessions. At these sessions, students display, explain and defend the results of their own biomedical research. Students participating in NMRS represent various colleges around the United States, including Puerto Rico, Guam, The Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia.
Of the seven MSRP students attending NMRS, two were CSUDH USTAR Scholars: Sheila Asare-Bediako and Akilah Watson; and five were students participating the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program: Glenda Hill, Susie Barkley-Jones, Edgar Lopez, Garry Phillips, Carlos Tinoco and Sergio Saloman, all of Compton Community College.
