Nov. 11, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Two Memphis men's soccer players brought home all-conference honors as selected by the Conference USA office on Tuesday morning. Memphis senior captain Michael Coburn and Tiger freshman Parker Duncan were the two Tigers who earned all-conference honors.

Coburn, a senior from Dundalk, Ireland, was named First Team All-C-USA. The defender has been honored as C-USA Offensive Player of the Week and C-USA Defensive Player of the Week this season. He was also named to College Soccer News' Team of the Week earlier this season. Coburn has been part of a defense that earned four shutouts, including shutouts over conference foes South Carolina and Kentucky. Coburn also has two game-winning goals on the season. He scored the game-winning goal against the No. 15 SMU Mustangs on a header in the third minute of overtime in a game that was televised nationally by CBS College Sports on Oct. 5. Coburn followed that performance a couple of games later, by again scoring the game-winner on a free kick against South Carolina. Last season, he earned Second Team All-C-USA recognition. Coburn is the first Tiger to garner first-team honors since Dayton O'Brien in 2005. O'Brien also earned All-American recognition for Memphis in 2005.

Duncan, a freshman from Johnson City, Tenn., earned Third Team All-C-USA honors, and was also recognized on the conference's all-freshman team. The forward is Memphis' leading scorer in 2008, with 13 points. His six goals currently rates as fifth in all of Conference USA. His six goals have come in a matter of seven games. Duncan broke into the starting line-up permanently following his impactful performance in helping Memphis take down perennial C-USA powerhouse SMU. It was Duncan who helped set up Sean Goulding's free kick which found Coburn for the game-winner. Duncan also added an assist to his season statistics against Central Arkansas. This is the second year in a row that Memphis has placed somebody on the all-freshman team. Ryan Ruble, who is a sophomore now, was named to the all-freshman team last season after tallying six goals and two assists in his first season.

2008 C-USA MEN'S SOCCER SPECIALTY AWARDS

Offensive Player of the Year
Ashley McInnes, F, Tulsa

Defensive Player of the Year
Barry Rice, D, Kentucky

Freshman of the Year
Austin Neil, F, Tulsa

Newcomer of the Year
Marco dos Santos, F, Kentucky

Coach of the Year
Tom McIntosh, Tulsa

All-Conference First Team
F: Juan Guerra, FIU
F:  Sam Arthur, South Carolina
F: Blake Brettschneider, South Carolina
MF: Jason Griffiths, Kentucky
MF: Joe Salem, Tulsa
MF: Two-Boys Gumede, UAB
MF: Kevan George, UCF
D: Barry Rice, Kentucky
D: Michael Coburn, Memphis
D: Chris Taylor, Tulsa
GK: Tyrel Lacey, Tulsa

All-Conference Second Team
F: Paulo da Silva, SMU
F: Ashley McInnes, Tulsa
F: Austin Neil, Tulsa
MF: Ariel Osorio, SMU
MF: Jeff Harwell, SMU
MF: Leone Cruz, SMU
MF: Jeff Scanella, South Carolina
D: Tyler Ruthven, South Carolina
D: Chris Clements, Tulsa
D: Ryan Roushandel, UCF
GK: Jimmy Maurer, South Carolina

All-Conference Third Team
F: Sterling Flunder, Marshall
F: Parker Duncan, Memphis
F: Jose Parada, Tulsa
MF: Masumi Turnbull, Kentucky
MF: Jira Cooley, Marshall
MF: Trey Gergory, UAB
MF: Michal Mrevec, UAB
D: Philip Fisher, FIU
D: Mark Wiltse, South Carolina
D: Dean Sorrell, UAB
GK: Dan Williams, Ketucky

All-Freshman Team
Marc Lyon, D, FIU
Brad Walker, D, Kentucky
Jordan Hilgefort, D, Marshall
Parker Duncan, F, Memphis
Diego De Almeida, MF, SMU
Arthur Ivo, F, SMU
David MacVane, MF, South Carolina
Steven Morrissey, MF, South Carolina
Austin Neil, F, Tulsa
Justin Chavez, D, Tulsa
Andrew Barsalona, MF, UAB
Kevan George, MF, UCF