Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/159717
2013 FURMAN SOCCER Furman Soccer Tradition The Furman women's soccer program has made a name for itself with six regular season Southern Conference titles, four league tournament crowns and five NCAA Tournament appearances in just 17 seasons, but several former Furman student-athletes have been able to spread the word about Furman University and its soccer programs to an even bigger audience throughout the world. Furman is one of only a handful of school's to have had two former student-athletes playing for the United States Men's National Team at the same time. Paladin products Clint Dempsey and Ricardo Clark have each played significant roles for the National Team in the past six years as the United States have won the 2008 CONCACAF Gold Cup, reached the finals of the 2009 Confederations Cup and won its group at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Dempsey, who recently joined Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders on a record transfer deal from Londonbased English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, has emerged as a star for the U.S. and one of the squad's most recognizable faces. After breaking into the squad in 2005,the midfielder became the only American to tally a goal at the 2006 World Cup when he scored in a 2-1 defeat against Ghana and became just one of three Americans ever to score in multiple World Cups when he scored versus England in 2010. In the summer of 2009, he was awarded the Bronze Boot after leading the USA in goals as it finished second to Brazil at the Confederations Cup. A three-time Major League Soccer All-Star with the 32 New England Revolution, before completing a $4 million transfer to Fulham in 2007, Dempsey was a key member of Furman's 2002 team that posted a 19-3-1 record, reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament and set NCAA standards for consecutive shutouts (11) and longest conference unbeaten streak (43 matches). He was selected to the NSCAA Second Team All-America squad in 2002 and was an All-SoCon selection all three years at Furman. He was also a two-time NSCAA All-South region choice. After being selected eighth overall by the Revolution in the 2004 draft, Dempsey went on to garner Gatorade MLS Rookie-of-the-Year honors and Sierra Mist MLS AllStar honors in his inaugural professional season. Following his move to Fulham in January of 2007, Dempsey made 10 appearances with the club and scored the Cottagers biggest goal of the year as he lifted Fulham to a 1-0 victory over Liverpool to avoid the relegation zone. After becoming Fulham's all-time leading scorer in its Premier League history and leading the club to the 2010 Europa League finals, Dempsey moved to Tottenham at the transfer deadline in August of 2012. He tallied 11 goals in his first season for Spus while helping the club to a fifth place finish in the Premier League. The midfielder has been selected as Futbol de Primera's U.S. Player of the Year three times (2006, '11, '12) and named U.S. Soccer's Athlete of the Year three times (2007, '11, '12). Ricardo Clark, the second overall pick in the 2003 MLS Draft by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, has become a regular with the national team. Clark anchored a young United States midfield at Copa America in 2007 in Venezuela, and tallied his first international goal in a loss to Paraguay. After a strong start to his career in MLS, Clark moved to Europe with German Bundesliga side Entracht Frankfurt and spent time on loan with Norwegian club Stabaek before returning to play with the Houston Dynamo Six-Time SoCon Regular Season Champions Former Furman standout Ricardo Clark is in his second stint with the Houston Dynamo and has helped the club to a pair of MLS titles. Clint Dempsey tallied 11 goals in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur before joining Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders this summer. in 2012. While at Furman, Clark earned 2002 First Team AllSouthern Conference and First Team NSCAA All-American honors while leading the Paladins to one of their most successful seasons in school history. Three other Paladins are currently featuring on MLS rosters during the 2012-13 campaign. San Jose Earthquakes' winger Shea Salinas helped Furman to the 2007 SoCon title and a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament before beginning his professional career. The Grapevine, Texas, product has logged playing time in over 120 matches for three different clubs during his five-year MLS career. Defender Walker Zimmerman, also a member of the United States U-20 National Team, was selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas and has overcome injury to score two goals in his inaugural season with the club. Goalkeeper Alec Kann, who ignited Furman's run to the NCAA's in 2011, also earned a spot on the Chicago Fire's roster for the 2012-13 campaign. Furman defender Walker Zimmerman is greeted by MLS Commissioner Don Garber after being selected No. 7 overall by FC Dallas in the MLS SuperDraft in January. Four-Time SoCon Tournament Champions