'Eaters Boast Two NSCAA Men's Soccer All-Americans
December 13, 2013 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- For the second time in program history, UC Irvine landed a pair of athletes on the NSCAA Men's Soccer All-American list in the form of seniors Marco Franco and Enrique Cardenas.
The duo is coming off their first Big West Player of the Year awards and recognition on the All-West Region squad, and now put their names among five other Anteaters to be called All-Americans.
Defender Marco Franco was named to the Second Team from his efforts securing 10 shutouts of UCI's 15 wins on the season. He also recorded two assists while allowing just 77 shots on goal on the season, lowest in the Big West, in addition to playing 2,134 of the team's 2,148 minutes this season.
Midfielder Enrique Cardenas bludgeoned opposing defenses leading the squad with eight goals, four game-winners, seven assists, and 23 points. The diminutive striker also converted all three of his penalty kicks this season including a pair in an upset of the nation's top team in UCLA.
For the program, Franco and Cardenas join the 2008 team that saw Matt Murphy earn the honor along with Andrew Fontein who earned freshman honors. Other Anteater All-Americans include MLS-captain and U.S. National Team member Brad Evans, UCI postseason stat-leader Irving Garcia, and most recently, NASL player Miguel Ibarra.
The journey continues for the duo along with fellow All-West Region member Tarek Morad and senior Christopher Santana who will await to hear their names in the upcoming MLS and NASL drafts in January.
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