Freshman Ramone Palmer also earned MCAC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2008 - Photo Courtesy Thad Bell

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three of Park’s top offensive players were named to the 2008 Brine-NAIA Men’s Soccer All-America Honorable Mention team.

Junior Tazou Ali Tagba, senior James Katajwa and freshman Ramone Palmer were all selected to the Honorable Mention squad.

All three were also selected to the 2008 Men’s Soccer All Conference/A.I.I./Unaffiliated Group team.

Ali Tagba, Katajwa and Palmer led the Pirates to their sixth straight NAIA National Tournament appearance and ninth overall. Park finished 11-4-3 on the year and lost to Baker University in the first round of the NAIA National tournament, 1-0, back on November 22.

Junior midfielder Eric Winblad of Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University is the 2008 Brine-NAIA National Player of the Year. Winblad finished the season with 16 points on six goals and four assists.

The Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year, he led the Cougars to a No. 5 season-ending ranking and a 13-4-3 record. He becomes the first ever APU player to receive this honor and just the second in the conference.

The Brine-NAIA Men's Soccer Coach of the Year will be released in mid-January during the NSCAA National Convention in St. Louis, Mo.

A profile of Park’s All-American’s may be seen below:

James Katajwa | Sr. | Forward

A senior out of Kampala, Uganda, James Katajwa led all Pirates in total points with 30 and shot attempts with 68 in the 2008 season. The forward was named MCAC Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending October 27. Katajwa scored four goals and registered an assist against Central Christian on Senior day, back on October 25.

Katajwa finished the year as Park’s leading goal scorer with 12, and is second on the team in assists with, six.

The four year starter also had three game winning goals to his credit and two penalty kick goals scored. He started and played in all 18 games for Park this season. Katajwa has collected 46 goals in his career along with 21 assists. The 5-7 forward has played in a total of 79 games and has competed in four NAIA National Tournaments, including a second round appearance in 2006.

Katajwa was named the MCAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and was awarded First Team MCAC and Region IV honors as a junior.

Tazou Ali Tagba | Jr. | Forward

Tazou Ali Tagba played in all 18 games for the Pirates in 2008 with 16 starts. The Lome, Togo native finished the season second on the team in goals scored with 10 and has also collected two assists on the year bringing his season total points to 22, which is third on the team.

Ali Tagba was selected as the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week for the week ending September 29, he was also awarded MCAC Offensive Player of the Week twice this season for the week ending September 15 and 29.

The forward also had a team leading six game winning goals and has attempted 45 shots for a .222 shot percentage, which is good for second on the team.

Ramone Palmer | Fr. | Midfielder

Only playing in his first year of collegiate soccer, freshman Ramone Palmer was a vital part to the success of Park University’s offense this season. Palmer finished second on the team in total points with 23 and third on the team in goals scored with eight.

The Kingston, Jamaica native also registered a team high seven assists on the year along with 40 shots, which is third most for Park. Palmer also supplied Park with one game winning shot on the year and appeared and started in 17 games for the Pirates in 2008.

Palmer also sported a .200 shot percentage on the year, which is the third best percentage of any Pirate.

 NAIA Sports Information also contributed to this release.

-PARK-