PISCATAWAY, N.J. (November 2, 2006) ? Four players from the University of South Florida men's soccer team earned post-season BIG EAST honors as announced by the league today. Kareem Smith (Second Team All-BIG EAST), Kevon Neaves (Third Team), Jordan Seabrook (Third Team All-BIG EAST) and Rodrigo Hidalgo (Third Team All-BIG EAST) were each honored by the BIG EAST Conference for their accomplishments this season.

Smith, who played and started in every match during his four-year USF career, helped anchor a defense which recorded a 0.80 GAA (ranking 25th in the nation). The Hyde Park, Mass., native earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 4) for a strong defensive outing versus a pair of ACC foes (N.C. State and Duke). Smith holds the USF record for consecutive starts (75) and is tied for the school mark in career matches (75).

Neaves was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 15, following back-to-back scoring contest, including the game-winning overtime goal versus Syracuse (Oct. 15). The Petit Valley, Trinidad, native picked up two goals and four assists during the 2006 regular season. Five of his eight total points were recorded in BIG EAST play, including a career-high three-point outing versus the Orange (1g, 1a). His four assists on the year set a new career best for the second-year midfielder.

Earning conference honors for the second-straight season, Seabrook finished the 2006 regular season as the team's leading scorer (6g, 3a, 15 pts.). A preseason All-BIG EAST selection, Seabrook was named the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Sept. 11) after scoring goals in consecutive BIG EAST games (the game-winner at Notre Dame ? Sept. 8 and the game-tying goal at Marquette ? Sept. 10). He registered his first multiple-goal outing of the season, notching two scores in front of a national audience (Fox Soccer Channel) as USF downed Stetson, 3-1, on Oct. 15. In that contest he scored his 20th-career goal and tallied his 50th-career point.

Named to the 2006 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Watch List, Hidalgo recorded 14 points, including two game-winning goals during the 2006 regular season. A preseason All-American (EPSNsoccernet, College Soccer News and Soccer America), Hidalgo earned preseason All-BIG EAST honors and was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for the Week ending Sept. 24. He notched two goals in USF's 5-1 win over Seton Hall during the first round of the BIG EAST Championship ? his first multiple-goal outing of the season. During the 2006 season, Hidalgo notched his 23rd-career assist (10th-best total all-time at USF).

Below is a complete listing of the 2006 BIG EAST Post-Season Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Joseph Lapira, F, Jr., Notre Dame
Defensive Player of the Year
Julius James, D, Jr., Connecticut
Midfielder of the Year
Greg Dalby, M, Sr., Notre Dame
Goalkeeper of the Year
Nick Noble, GK, Sr., West Virginia
Rookie of the Year
Toni Stahl, M, Fr., Connecticut
Coaching Staff of the Year
Marlon LeBlanc, West Virginia

All-BIG EAST First Team
*Omar Cummings, F, Sr., Cincinnati
*Greg Dalby, M, Sr., Notre Dame
Eliseo Giusfredi, F, So., Seton Hall
David Guzman, M, Jr., Louisville
*Julius James, D, Jr., Connecticut
*Joseph Lapira, F, Jr., Notre Dame
Ryan Maduro, M, Jr., Providence
Nick Noble, GK, Sr., West Virginia
*Jarrod Smith, F, Sr., West Virginia
O'Brian White, F, So., Connecticut
Andrew Wright, M, Jr., West Virginia

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Kenny Anaba, F, Jr., Cincinnati
Matt Besler, D, So., Notre Dame
Amir Ikner, D, Jr., Cincinnati
Frank Jonke, F, Jr., Louisville
Bart Koffeman, D, Sr., Rutgers
Chris Konopka, GK, Sr., Providence
Nick LaBrocca, M, Sr., Rutgers
Teddy Niziolek, M, Sr., Seton Hall
Akeem Priestley, M, So., Connecticut
Ricky Schramm, F, Sr., Georgetown
Kareem Smith, D, Sr., USF

All-BIG EAST Third Team
Chris Cahill, GK, Sr., Notre Dame
Patrik Engstrom, D, Sr., St. John's
Andrew Halsell, D, Jr., West Virginia
Rodrigo Hidalgo, M, Jr., USF
Gordon Kljestan, D, Sr., Seton Hall
Kevon Neaves, M, So., USF
John Raus, F, Sr., Seton Hall
Timothy Ritter, F, So., Providence
Karl Schilling, D, Jr., Connecticut
Jordan Seabrook, F, So., USF
Toni Stahl, M, Fr., Connecticut

All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Rich Asante, M, Sr., Syracuse
Ryan Cordeiro, F, Jr., Connecticut
Georgios Spanos, D, Sr., St. John's
Jack Traynor, D, So., Notre Dame
* - unanimous selection