Men's Soccer Program Recognized At Student-Athlete Awards ReceptionMay 9, 2006 MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee nationally-ranked men's soccer program was on the receiving end of numerous awards and recognition this past Sunday at the annual Student-Athlete Awards Reception and Hall of Fame Induction. Neil Dombrowski was one of the major award winners, claiming the Pepsi/UWM Athlete of the Year honors. Two of the six new members to the Athletics Hall of Fame were also part of the program, as Kevin Deck and Dan Harris were among the six new inductees. Dombrowski was a First-Team All-Horizon League honoree this past season in leading the Panthers to the Horizon League Tournament crown and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He led the team in both goals and points and tied a Horizon League and UWM record by scoring four goals in a single match. Plus, he excelled off the field, earning Second Team Academic All-America honors. The Pepsi/UWM Athlete of the Year award is chosen by a panel of athletic administrators. Any UWM student-athlete is eligible for the award, and the final vote on the winners is taken using a ballot with one nominee from each sport. The 2006 Hall of Fame class included Steve Bania, Pam Bartnik, Kevin Deck, Dan Harris, Ericka (Malterer) King and Anne (Vuchichevich) Marshall. Kevin Deck was a standout sweeper for the UWM men's soccer team during the mid-1990's. He earned four letters while playing for both Brian Tompkins and Louis Bennett from 1993-96. He helped the Panthers win the 1993 Mid-Continent Conference championship and then earned First-Team All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference in 1994, 1995 and 1996. He was the team captain and most valuable player in both 1995 and 1996 and also earned MCC All-Tournament honors in 1995. Deck's recognition extended far beyond league play. He was selected to the All-Midwest Region First Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in both 1995 and 1996. Plus, Deck became the first defender in UWM history to earn All-America honors when both the NSCAA and Umbro named him to their second teams in 1995. Since leaving UWM, Deck played briefly for the Chicago Stingers in the United Soccer League and now serves as the general manager for internet retailer New Balance Web Express. Dan Harris' mark on the UWM Athletic Department is still felt today, as Harris laid the groundwork for the highly successful men's soccer program at the University when he became the first head coach for the men's varsity soccer program. Harris served as the head coach for the men's soccer program from 1973-83, compiling a record of 109-70-15. He led the Panthers to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths (1979 and 1980), the first Division I Tournament berths of any kind in any sport. Harris is credited with the development of the Milwaukee Cup, which annually pits UWM against Marquette; the LeWang Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the match between UWM and Northern Illinois; and the Chancellor's Cup, which is up for grabs when UWM and UW-Green Bay meet. Harris' teams in 1977, 1979 and 1980 were all both regionally and nationally ranked. He coached 12 future professional players, and coached future national championship coaches Jim Launder and Sasho Cirovski. Harris also served as an associate athletic director and the director of men's athletics at UWM. Harris' athletic career has also included coaching stints at the Air Force Academy and Concordia University and he currently serves as the athletic director at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He is a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame and has received a Distinguished Service Award for Student Service from UWM in 1977 and a Certificate of Merit from the UWM Hall of Fame in 1991. Another award winner was Steve Bode, who won the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award.
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