June 13, 2001

ONEONTA, N.Y. - The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced the official ballot for Induction 2001 today. The candidates include former University of North Carolina All-America midfielder Shannon Higgins, '89. Higgins was also a two-time National Player of the Year when she competed for Carolina from 1986-89. She never lost a collegiate game in her four years at Carolina.

Twelve candidates, from a list of 138 players who meet induction criteria, topped the first round voting by the Selection Advisory Committee, comprised of current and former United States National Team coaches plus selected Hall of Famers. On the final ballot are Paul Child, Teofilo Cubillas, Rick Davis, Angelo DiBernardo, Shannon Higgins (Cirovski), Randy Horton, Arnie Mausser, Shep Messing, Ilija Mitic, Bobby Smith, Wolfgang Suhnholz, and Al Trost.

Only two of the twelve players will be chosen to join superstars Pele, Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, April Heinrichs, UNC '86 and a National Playter of the Year in her own right, and 218 other stars of American soccer immortalized in the Hall of Fame. The 2001 inductees will be announced in July and inducted in Oneonta, N.Y. during a weekend long celebration October 13-14, 2001.

The two to be inducted in the class of 2001 will be chosen by the soccer media via a national on-line ballot. "This is the first time we've had the technology in place to effectively reach the national media, " said Director of Museum Services Jack Huckel. Huckel added, "Mail ballots are being supplanted by Internet technology and we are excited that we can easily open the balloting to the widest possible audience. Members of the media are invited to complete the registration form and vote will vote via a special ballot page at www.soccerhall.org, the official National Soccer Hall of Fame web site.

Another first in 2001 is the Hall of Fame fan poll. Soccer fans coast to coast can see the biographies of the twelve candidates and cast their vote via a special Fan-Poll section on the Hall of Fame web site as well. Winners of the 2001 Hall of Fame fan poll will be announced on the Hall's site in July, also.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame, located in Oneonta, New York, features a range of exhibits on the history of soccer in the United States from the earliest games played on Boston Common to the latest scores and standings. In addition to the Museum, the National Soccer Hall of Fame complex boasts an interactive Kicks Game Zone, a pro shop, a gift shop, library, four world class soccer fields and office/meeting facilities. For additional information contact Jill Renwick at the National Soccer Hall of Fame (607) 432-3351, ext. 203.