Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 11, 1994 TAG: 9401110006
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Although he has played his last soccer game for the University of Virginia, Claudio Reyna is not without college-related functions to attend.
The Missouri Athletic Club announced Monday that Reyna was the first repeat selection as national men's player of the year.
Reyna, a junior from Springfield, N.J., had a total of 342 points and 80 first-place votes to outdistance runner-up Brian McBride of St. Louis University, who had 263 points and 53 first-place votes. Reyna's margin of victory was double that of a year ago.
"We had the same goals that we always set - to win the ACC and the national championship," said Reyna, who played forward and midfield for UVa this season. "I don't think I would have felt the same about the individual awards without the team title."
The Cavaliers won their third straight NCAA title in a fitting end to a college career that will end officially when Reyna accepts his first paycheck.
"We concluded sometime in November, although we've never released a statement, that this would be Claudio's final year," UVa coach Bruce Arena said. "Now that I've got to coach a little bit, we may be in serious trouble."
Reyna, who was approached to play professionally before his sophomore year, did not enroll for the spring semester and is training for the team that will represent the United States in the World Cup.
"I didn't feel there was any pressure to leave or stay," Reyna said. "It just turned out this was the right time with the World Cup coming up. I kind of had it set in my mind I would be here three years. I think it's worked out the way [Arena] planned and I planned."
by CNB