Nov. 3, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Newcomers Erik Magnusson and Jo Rene Valentin and sophomore captain Scott Rietze of New Jersey Institute of Technology were named to the all-Atlantic Soccer Conference second team, the ASC announced on the eve of its 2006 postseason championship tournament.

Magnusson, a freshman midfielder and Valentin, a junior forward, played their first seasons with the Highlanders, who finished with a 2-3-1 record in conference play this season. Rietze, who made his NJIT debut in 2005, was named to the all-star team as a defender.

Magnusson, a strong two-way player, started 15 of the team's 16 games and was second on the team in total shots (24) and shots on goal (14).

Valentin, who came to NJIT after two years at Rockland Community College in New York, where he was a junior college all-American, was NJIT's leading scorer, with 6 points on 2 goals and 2 assists. He led the team in shots (29) and shots on goal (16). His goal in the second overtime was the game-winner for the Highlanders in their first Division I road win, a 1-0 victory at Longwood on October 15.

Rietze, a strong defender whose leadership was recognized when the coaching staff elevated him to the team captaincy part way through the 2006 season, played and started 14 games on the back line, as the Highlanders cut their goals against to 28 in 16 games.

Major awards for the conference were: Tyler Hemming of defending champion Hartwick repeated as Player of the Year; freshman midfielder Joel Senior of Howard was Rookie of the Year and Bob Montgomery of 2006 regular season champion Adelphi was Coach of the Year.