Oct. 7, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Former Nittany Lion soccer great Jim Stamatis (1976-1979) is one of just 32 players that has been nominated to the ballot for the NCAA Men's College Cup 50th Anniversary Team. Fans will have the chance to select the 11 best student-athletes and one coach throughout the last 50 years of the championship. The voting ballot will be hosted by NCAA.com.
Voting for the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer 50th Anniversary team began this week and will run until noon on Oct. 15. Individual fans only will be able to submit one vote.
One of the greatest players in the storied history of the Penn State men's soccer program, Stamatis was named a First Team All-American as a junior in 1978, helping legendary head coach Walter Bahr's Nittany Lions to a 11-5-1 record.
In his senior season, he received collegiate soccer's highest honor when he was named the winner of the prestigious Robert Hermann Award as the nation's most outstanding player. The Bethlehem, Pa. native capped a standout career with 16 goals and 12 assists for 44 points in 23 games in 1979. He led the Nittany Lions to an 18-4-1 record and the school's first appearance in the NCAA Final Four, where they finished third.
Stamatis is Penn State's all-time leading career scorer with 133 points on 52 goals and 29 assists. He led the Lions in goals and points each season between 1977 and 1979.
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.