AHAMED NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Golden Flyers get four E8 first-teamers in men's soccer

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2006) -- Sophomore Mohammed Ahamed (pictured) was selected Defensive Player of the Year and he was joined by three other Nazareth players as first-team all-stars today with the announcement of the Empire 8 Conference all-star teams for men's soccer.

Other Nazareth first-team selections were senior back Ed Babcock, senior midfielder Scott Rigney and senior goalkeeper Alex Kilroy. Freshman midfielder Philip Holmberg made the second team and senior back Scott Cavanaugh and sophomore forward Justin Stevens were honorable mention picks. The teams were selected through voting conducted by the league's head coaches.

Ahamed, of the Bronx and a graduate of Martin Luther King High School, started all 17 games as the Golden Flyers' sweeper and helped Nazareth to an overall record of 12-4-1 as the team posted an overall goals-against average of 1.04. He also was chosen as Nazareth's representative on the men's soccer Sportsman of the Year Team. He was noted among the players in the conference who distinguished themselves for outstanding sportsmanship and consistently exhibited traits that were in line with Nazareth's educational mission.

Kilroy, of Spencerport, N.Y. and a graduate of Spencerport High School, was a four-year starter for the Golden Flyers who had a 1.04 goals-against average in 2006 with 93 saves and five shutouts. He was selected Empire 8 Goalie of the Week three times in '06.

Rigney, of Nunda, N.Y. and a graduate of Keshequa High School, is Nazareth's second-leading scorer in '06 with 14 points on four goals and six assists. He was a second-team all-conference pick in 2005.

Babcock, of Geneseo, N.Y. and a graduate of Geneseo High School, contributed four goals and three assists for Nazareth in 2006 and has been a steady player for four seasons. He was a second-team all-conference pick in 2005 and 2004.

Holmberg, of Malmo, Sweden, joined the Golden Flyers in 2006 and has had an immediate impact on the team's success. He has contributed three goals and three assists while starting all 17 games. Cavanaugh, of Brockport, N.Y. and a graduate of Holley High School, has overcome injuries in 2006 to start 14 games and has contributed two goals and two assists. Stevens, of Derby, N.Y. and a graduate of Canisius High School, leads Nazareth's well-balanced offense in scoring in 2006 with 15 points on six goals and three assists.