Park Named National Freshman of the Year
1/24/2002 6:03:40 PM | Men's Soccer
Syracuse men's soccer player Jarett Park (Tully, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) has been named the national Freshman of the Year by Soccer America Magazine. Park is the first Syracuse player to earn the distinction in the 13-year history of the Award.
Park, the 2001 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year, had one of the most productive seasons ever by an Orangeman. He led the team, the BIG EAST and the nation with 14 assists (0.93 per game), an SU freshman record and the second-best single-season assist total by a Syracuse player regardless of class.
Park also scored five goals and ranks third on the Syracuse freshman points list with 24. In addition to his conference Rookie of the Year honor, Park was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team. Park was also a second-team All-New York Region selection in 2001.
The freshman forward was also included on Soccer America's All-Freshman Team. Park was one of six conference Freshman of the Year honorees to make the squad. Also included were the Big Ten's Co-Freshman of the Year Mike Ambersley (Indiana), the Southern Conference's Clint Dempsey (Furman), the Pac-10's C.J. Klaas (Washington), the America East's Alon Lubezky (Hartford), and the ACC's Marcus Storey (North Carolina).
Syracuse finished the 2001 season with an 8-9-1 record overall and a 4-5-1 mark in the BIG EAST. SU was ranked as high as 18th in the nation during the season, the second straight year that the Orangemen have been ranked in the top 20.
Park was also a highly-rated men's lacrosse recruit and will suit for the Orangemen this spring as they attempt to make their 20th consecutive NCAA final four.
