Nov. 9, 2001

MILWAUKEE - UWM's Ryan Seymour is the Horizon League Player of the Year while Louis Bennett is the coach of the year, the league office announced today.

Seymour and Bennett have helped lead the Panthers to a 16-3 overall record, a national ranking and the regular-season Horizon League championship. Three other Panthers were named to the All-League First Team, while two UWM players made the All-League Second Team. Three Panthers made the all-newcomer team.

Seymour ended the regular season as the league's leading scorer. He posted 15 goals and had eight assists for a total of 38 points. He had 20 points alone in UWM's seven league matches and he also collected four game-winning goals.

Bennett helped UWM to its second regular season championship in his tenure, with the Panthers also claiming the league crown in 1997. In six seasons at UWM, Bennett is 71-44-7. The 16 wins for UWM this season tie a school record and tie UWM with top-ranked Southern Methodist for the most wins in the country.

Also on the first team for UWM were junior defender Chad Dombrowski, sophomore midfielder Tighe Dombrowski and junior goalkeeper Chris Dadaian. Making the second team from UWM was freshman defender Khaled El-Ahmad and sophomore forward Kyle Lance. El-Ahmad, Trent Furtsch and Antou Jallow all made the league's all-newcomer team.

The Panthers open the Horizon League Tournament Saturday against Cleveland St. at Engelmann Field. The match kicks off at noon. If the Panthers win, they would host the semifinals and finals next weekend.