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Men's Soccer

Kevin Gallaugher Named CCAA Male Athlete of the Year for 2008-09

Walnut Creek, CA -- Five months removed from leading the Cal State Dominguez Hills men's soccer team to the 2008 NCAA National Championship, its second in eight years, junior defender Kevin Gallaugher was named the 2008-09 California Collegiate Athletic Association's Male Athlete of the Year on May 30, as voted on by the league's sports information directors at their annual year-end summit. 

This marks the fourth time a Toro has been named the conference's Male Athlete of the Year, and first since the 2000-01 season.

"It's a great privilege to be honored with this award," Gallaugher begins.  "The CCAA Conference produces so many stellar student-athletes and I'm very proud to be recognized as one part of the incredible level of excellence my team has achieved this season."

Gallaugher's year-end honor completes a remarkable season in which the Walnut native claimed just about every honor there was to win, including the NSCAA D-II Player of the Year honor, going along with his two 1st-team All-America nods (NSCAA & Daktronics), two 1st-team All-Region selections (NSCAA & Daktronics), the CCAA Defensive MVP, a 1st-team All-CCAA award, the NCAA Final Four and NCAA West Region Defensive MVP honors, and one CCAA/Brine Player of the Week accolade.

In 2008, the now four-time All-American and heart and soul of the Toro defense was instrumental in leading CSUDH to a program-tying 14 shutouts on the year, including three in five games during their NCAA postseason title run.  In addition, Gallaugher helped limit the opposition to just one goal in 9 additional games en route to a paltry .077 shot percentage and 19 goals on the year, an average of just 0.68 goals scored per game by opponents. 

Gallaugher's exceptional defense also helped enable Toro keeper Justin Commins to break the CSUDH and CCAA record for season goals-against average at 0.40, surpassing the prior mark of 0.53 GAA by Derby Carillo set in 2007, Gallaugher's first stint in Carson.

Additionally, he contributed on offense with 5 goals on the year which included two multi-goal contests, as well as taking and converting the only two penalty kick opportunities for the Cardinal and Gold.

Last garnered by former Toro great Juan Carlos "JC" Bolanos after CSUDH's first men's soccer NCAA Title in 2000-01, men's basketball's William Alexander first claimed the CCAA Male Athlete of the Year award in 1986-87, and was followed two years later by men's basketball's Anthony Blackmon.

Says head coach Joe Flanagan, "It's a great way to end a great year.  Kevin's very deserving of the honor, and you really get to appreciate how he makes everyone around him better, which is a true definition of being chosen the conference's athlete of the year."

Gallaugher again will anchor the 2009 team as he leads a total of 10 returning players looking to defend the 2008 NCAA National Championship.
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