American's Kuykendall Selected By D.C. United

Feb. 4, 2005

WASHINGTON - American University men's soccer player Shawn Kuykendall (Fairfax, Va./Madison) has been drafted by D.C. United in the 2005 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft today.

Kuykendall was chosen in the fourth round and was the 48th and final selection of the draft. The last American University player drafted was Michael Behonik (Bohemia, N.Y./Connetquot), who was also selected by D.C. United in the sixth round of the MLS Superdraft on Jan. 17, 2003. Other American ties with D.C. United include Head Coach Todd West, who served as an assistant coach with the United, and Ben Olsen, who is a midfielder for the team and a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles.

The honor is just one of the many Kuykendall has enjoyed over the last few months. In December he was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Atlantic Region Second Team. It was the second time Kuykendall was named to the Second Team of the NSCAA, as he captured the award after his sophomore year. In both seasons he led the Eagles to the second round of the NCAAs. As a senior, Kuykendall led AU to a Patriot League title, was named Patriot League Player of the Year and led the league in scoring at 1.04 points per game.

Kuykendall finished the season with 10 assists and seven goals. The 10 assists is the third best single-season mark in AU history. In 2002, Kuykendall had 11 assists and he shares the No. 2 spot with Michael Brady and Nino Marcantonio. Kuykendall is in AU's top 10 categories for assists (29 - tied for second), points (75 - 5th) and goals (23 - 7th).

Kuykednall is part of a senior class that competed in three NCAA tournaments (which no class at AU had ever accomplished) and which won two Patriot League Championships.

"Shawn Kuykendall has just completed one of the most succesful careers that any midfielder at American University has ever enjoyed," said West. "I am proud of what Shawn accomplished here at American and I am confident and hopeful that he will be able to contribute to D.C. United."

MLS added the Supplemental Draft this year to help teams fill out their rosters to a record-high 28 players. Eighteen of those will be considered members of the Senior Roster, while the remaining 10 will be part of the Developmental Roster. The league will field reserve teams this season for the first time, giving developmental players a chance to play in competitive games throughout the season.

For more information on the 2005 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft that was held today, please go to the MLS Website at: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/index.jsp.