Nov. 12, 2008

Philadelphia, Pa. - The Atlantic 10 Conference announced the 2008 Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams this afternoon with Fordham having four players earn accolades, led by senior defender John Pardini (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown), who was named First Team All-Atlantic 10 for the second straight season. In addition to Pardini, freshmen Ryan Meara (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep), Matt Courtenay (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual), and Aaron Markowitz (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) were selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.

A preseason All-Conference selection, Pardini earns First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors for the second straight season after posting career-highs in every offensive category. He recorded two goals and five assists for nine points, leading Fordham in assists this season. He also led the Fordham defense to a 0.90 team goals against average and eight shutouts.

Meara had an outstanding first season at Fordham, starting all 18 games in net. He set the Fordham freshman records for shutouts (8) and goals against average (0.92) and was a two-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week selection. In conference play, Meara was even stingier, recording a 0.65 goals against average as he allowed just six goals in nine conference games to go with five conference shutouts.

Markowitz, who also started all 18 games, finished as Fordham's leading scorer with 11 points on four goals and three assists. He is the first freshman to lead the Rams in scoring since 2004. Markowitz finished the year with a team-best three game-winning goals and was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week once.

Courtenay came on strong in the second half of the season to lead Fordham in goal scoring with five, three of which came in conference play. He finished second on the team in points to go along with one game-winning goal.

Pardini, Meara, Courtenay, Markowitz and the rest of the Fordham men's soccer team will now begin play at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where they will meet #4 seed Saint Louis in the opening round on Thursday, November 13th. Game time is set for 8:30 PM Eastern.