Kimura's name called in MLS Draft
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: Sports
|
Kimura was the 35th pick overall in the supplemental draft going in the third round.
"I'm very excited for Kosuke," said Leathernecks soccer coach Eric Johnson. "He is very deserving of the opportunity to continue his playing career at the next level. His dedication and focus to become an elite player are second-to-none, and he has been an inspiration to his teammates over the last four years."
The Second-Team All-Mid-Continent Conference member from 2006 and First-Team All-Conference selection from 2005 scored five goals and recorded 14 assists in his four-year career at Western. He was named team MVP of the 2005 season and was captain of the 2006 team.
Kimura set career highs in goal scoring and assists with five of each in the 2006 season, leading the Leathernecks to their third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their third consecutive Mid-Con Tournament Championship.
The 2006 team tied a school record for wins at 15 and became the only team in the conference to win three championships.
He started all 41 games in which he played his final two seasons, and he started 75 of the 79 games in which he played in all four years.
In his four years at Western, Kimura helped compile a record of 43-33-7 from 2003 to 2006, marking the second-best four-year run by Western. The best run came from 1984 to 1987 under legendary coach John MacKenzie, when the Leathernecks went 48-32-2.
"It is no coincidence that the last four years have been the most successful since '84-'87 when Ted Eck, Tom Soehn and Ken Dugan played for the Leathernecks," Johnson said.
Both Eck and Soehn played in the MLS, and Soehn was just named head coach of D.C. United.
-Western Illinois University
Athletics Media Services
Be the first to comment on this story