Jan. 10, 2006
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Greg Dalby (Poway, Calif./Poway), a junior midfielder/defender on the Notre Dame men’s soccer team, has been named a first-team All-American by College Soccer News and SoccerTimes.com. Dalby had previously received the same honor from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and becomes the first Fighting Irish men’s soccer player to garner first-team honors from all three sources.
Dalby was named a M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Award semifinalist along with garnering first-team all-BIG EAST honors. The junior tri-captain was a steady presence both in the Irish defense and midfield throughout the season as he was one of four Irish players to start all 23 games on the year.
The California native helped lead the Fighting Irish to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in program history. Notre Dame reached the Sweet 16 by knocking off two-time defending NCAA champion Indiana, 2-0 in Bloomington, Ind., on Nov. 22. The Irish were eliminated from the tournament in the following match, a 1-0 loss at Clemson.
Dalby notched five points on two goals and one assist on the season. He tallied Notre Dame’s first goal of the season, just 1:26 into a 4-1 season-opening victory against No. 7 SMU. That was the first goal of his collegiate career. He also collected an assist versus the Mustangs. His other goal was the game-winner versus Pittsburgh.
This past summer, Dalby captained the U.S. Under-20 team in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Notre Dame has had four previous adidas/NSCAA All-American selections. Goalkeeper Chris Sawyer was a first-team selection last season and forward Justin Detter garnered third-team honors in 2003. Two other third-team members were Tony Capasso in 1996 and Randy Morris in 1988.
The Fighting Irish have only had one other College Soccer News All-American, with Sawyer collecting first-team honors in 2003. Sawyer was also named a third-team All-American by SoccerTimes.com in 2003 along with Detter, who was a second-team selection. Dalby was tabbed as a Soccer America Freshman All-American in 2003.
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