In its celebration of the Men’s College Cup, the NCAA announced that former Rutgers standout Alexi Lalas has been named a finalist for the 50th Anniversary Team. Lalas is one of 32 former student-athletes and six head coaches who will comprise the voting ballot, which is hosted on NCAA.com.
Fans will have the chance to select the 11 best student-athletes and one coach throughout the last 50 years of the championship. Voting for the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer 50th Anniversary team at www.ncaa.com/polls/ncaasoccerpoll.php will run until noon on Oct. 15. Fans will only be able to submit one vote per person. Members selected to the anniversary team will be honored at the 2008 NCAA Men’s College Cup in Frisco, Texas, at Pizza Hut Park on Dec. 12- 14.
Lalas, a three-time All-American at Rutgers from 1988-91, guided the Scarlet Knights to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a National Semifinal in 1989 and National Championship game in 1990. The consensus National Player of the Year in 1991, Lalas helped RU to its first No. 1 ranking in the history of the program during his senior season. During his time ‘On the Banks,’ Rutgers compiled a 71-15- 8 overall record.
Widely accepted as one of the most recognizable faces in American soccer, Lalas began his outstanding professional career in 1991 when he earned his first cap for the US National Team. An Olympian in 1992 and 1996, Lalas was a member of the United States’ 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams and in 1995 he was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year.
On the club level, Lalas became the firstever American player to compete in Italy’s Serie A, as he signed with Padova in 1994. He spent two seasons with the team before deciding to return to the United States for the inaugural season of Major League Soccer in 1996.
He cemented his place in MLS history by making five all-star appearances during his seven-year career and garnering MLS Best XI honors in 2002. During three seasons with the LA Galaxy he won the 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2002 MLS Cup.