Jan. 7, 2002

University of Kentucky senior defenders Annie Gage and Ilkka Jantti have been selected to the Umbro Select All-Star Soccer Classics, which will be played Saturday, Feb. 9 in Miami, Fla.

The seventh annual all-star event, held this year at Lockhart Stadium, home of the Major League Soccer's Miami Fusion, features the country's top men and women collegiate senior soccer players. KICS International, a Ft. Lauderdale-based marketing and management firm representing Umbro, made the announcement.

Gage (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) led the UK women's soccer team to a 12-8-1 finish and a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2001. Tying the UK career record for points scored with 107, she also set all-time marks in shots taken (208) and assists (33). In 2001, the senior captain was voted first-team All-Southeastern Conference, selected to the SEC All-Tournament team, and earned second-team All-Great Lakes Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

"Being named one of the top seniors in the country is a great way to end an outstanding collegiate career," Coach Warren Lipka said. "Hopefully this will allow her to get the looks she needs to continue her career at the professional level."

Being named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, Jantti helped lead the men's soccer team to their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2001. A native of Lati, Finland, Jantti was named to the 2001 NSCAA All-America second team and also earned first-team Scholar All-America status by the NSCAA during his senior campaign.

"Without question Ilkka is one of the best players in America," Coach Ian Collins said. "This will give him an excellent chance to showcase his talent to a lot of professional teams. He has been one of the biggest factors in the rise of the UK program, and I believe he can make the move to the professional ranks."

The Umbro Select rosters are comprised of the top college seniors in the country who will be trying to impress the scouts of MLS and the Women's United Soccer Association leading up to their respective drafts on Feb. 10-11.

Women's Umbro Select Roster
East
Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers: Emily Oleksiuk (Penn State), Katie Carson (Clemson) Defenders: Annie Gage (Kentucky), Danielle Borgman (North Carolina), Casey Zimny (Connecticut), Linda Arauz (Vanderbilt), Monica Gonzalez (Notre Dame) Midfielders: Juliana Filipe (Union), Jena Kluegel (North Carolina), Lori Lindsey (Virginia), Andi Sellers (Florida), Tricia Williams (Clemson), Alexa Borisjuk (Connecticut) Forwards: Betsy Moore (Northern Kentucky), Anne Remy (North Carolina), Abby Wambach (Florida), Emily Taggart (Wake Forest), Katie Barnes (West Virginia) INJURED: Keisha Bell (Florida)

West
Goalkeepers: Liz Wagner (Notre Dame), Victoria Nusse (TCNJ) Defenders: Danielle Slaton (Santa Clara), Brooke O'Hanley (Portland), Amy Sauer (Stanford), Anna Kraus (Santa Clara), Bethany Bogart (UCLA), Julia Cuder (UCSD) Midfielders: Breana Boling (UCLA), Mary-Frances Monroe (UCLA), Stacey Tullock (Arizona St.), Meghan Anderson (Nebraska), Andrea Alfiler (Azusa Pacific) Forwards: Nicky Thrasher (Texas A&M), Stephanie Rigamat (UCLA), Staci Duncan (UCLA), Amy Kofoed (Utah), Katy Sturtz (Ohio Wesleyan)

Men's Umbro Select Roster
East
Goalkeepers: Bryheem Hancock (UConn), Mark Spears (William Carey) Defenders: Danny Jackson (North Carolina), Ilkka Jantti (Kentucky), Shalrie Joseph (St. John's), Kenny Owens (Georgetown), Midfielders: Matt Goldsmith (Furman), Erik Ozimek (Davidson), Matt Behncke (Princeton), Mansour N'Diaye (UConn), Ted Giannacopoulos (Williams) Forwards: Alejandro Moreno (UNCG), John Barry Nusum (Furman), Nicholas McCreath (Rhode Island), Mike Nugent (Princeton), Dennis Ludwig (Rutgers)

West
Goalkeepers: Byron Foss (SMU), Armando Femia (IUPUI) Defenders: Jeff Stewart (Santa Clara), Lee Morrison (Stanford), Josh Rife (Indiana), Marty Taipel (Saint Louis), Brian Lavin (Yale) Midfielders: Derek Potteiger (Penn St), Ricardo Villar (Penn St.), Carl Bussey (SMU), Brantley Spillman (UAB), Glen Collins (Greensboro) Forwards: Dominic DaPra (Wisconsin), Jordy Broder (Appalachian State), Mohamed Fahim (SMU), Ian Fuller (Clemson)

PDL Squad (PDL teams second) Goalkeepers: Michael Ueltschey (North Carolina, Boulder Nova), Shawn Alexander (Richmond, Western Michigan) Defenders: Bob Brennan (American, Chesapeake), Kevin Sakuda (Duke, Brooklyn), Beckett Hollenbach (Maryland, Chesapeake), Joe Cartlidge (CSUDH, Orange County), Billy Sleeth (Washington, Seattle) Midfielders: Marshall Leonard (Virginia, Kalamazoo), Jeff Matteo (St. John's, Westchester), Steve Totten (Virginia, Kalamazoo), Matt Evans (Azusa Pacific, So. California) Forwards: Joey Worthen (South Carolina, Cape Cod), Demetrio Sanchez (Duke, Willamette Valley), Luchi Gonzalez (SMU, Miami), Gavin Glinton (Bradley, Chicago), Anthony Maher (Mercyhurst, West Michigan)

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