June 2, 2003

MISSION, Kan. - Megan Connors, a 2003 women's soccer recruit was named to the 2003 McDonald's All-American High School Soccer team roster. Connors and the other 71 elite athletes (36 boys, 36 girls) will participate in the second annual event sponsored by POWERade on Sunday, June 15, at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island in Charleston, S.C.

Connors, a goalkeeper out of Westfield, N.J., will join fellow ACC contenders, Elizabeth Guess and Jessica Maxwell (North Carolina) and Shannon Foley and Becky Sauerbrunn (Virginia) as members of the east squad. The netminder enters the NC State lineup this fall and will bring with her a wealth of noteworthy accomplishments. Her 2001 and 2002 Westfield High squads were Union County Champions, while she managed the role of captain. She was Most Valuable Player for the 2002 county tournament. Additionally, she has played with the PDA Galaxy Club teams the past two years, helping them to a 2001 state cup championship and region one championship, a 2001 Columbia Tournament title and finally a 2002 Jefferson Cup. Connors was named MVP after her performance in the 2001 Region I tournament. In addition to her MVP honors, she was named second team all-state in 2002 as well as first team Union County and all-conference and earned second team Union County the year before. The New Jersey native was also a participant in the Olympic Development Program (ODP) for her state in 1999, 2000-02.

Selected by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), the 36 boys and 36 girls hail from 23 states and represent the "cream of the crop" among seniors competing during the 2002-2003 school year. Founded in 1941, the NSCAA has grown into the nation's largest coaches organization regardless of sport. Its 16,000 members coach at all levels of the game and are dedicated to coaching education as well as recognizing achievement in soccer. The NSCAA's annual convention is the world's largest gathering of soccer coaches.

"We are pleased to carry on the tradition of honoring top scholastic athletes who excel in their chosen sport," said John Lewicki, Director of McDonald's U.S. Sports Marketing. "The McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games are an outstanding platform to showcase the skills of America's top high school soccer players, many of whom will go on to careers in college and the professional ranks."

"Our selection committee has worked long hours to identify the best players nationwide for the McDonald's All American High School Soccer Games," said Janet Rayfield, President of the NSCAA and Women's Soccer Coach at the University of Illinois. "The talented young men and women who will take the field in Charleston will ensure a tremendous event and two highly competitive matches."

McDonald's is once again teaming up with POWERade, a Coca-Cola brand; adidas, the world's leading soccer brand; and the NSCAA to sponsor this All Star event. Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and adidas all support soccer worldwide and are official sponsors of the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Women's World Cup. It is, therefore, natural for the All Star event to be "powered by" POWERade, "selected by" the NSCAA, and "equipped by" adidas. In addition, Delta Airlines is the official airline for the Games.

The games are scheduled to be played Sunday night, June 15, at Blackbaud Stadium, home of the Charleston Battery of the A-League. The girls' East-West game kicks off at 5 p.m. (EST), followed by the boys' East-West Game, which begins at 7 p.m. (EST). An All American fireworks celebration will immediately follow the games.

To view the complete release from the NSCAA and the 72-member roster go to McDonald's All-American Game