Virginia's Alecko Eskandarian Named ACC Co-Player Of The Week

NYtimes - ALECKO ESKANDARIAN, a junior at Virginia and one of the top-scoring strikers in the country, will leave college after the season and make himself available for the M.L.S. SuperDraft in January. Eskandarian, whose father, ANDRANIK, played for the Cosmos in the North American Soccer League and internationally for Iran in the 1978 World Cup, has 21 goals this season. There has been some interest from European clubs, but he could be the No. 1 pick by M.L.S. Coincidentally, Eskandarian, a member of the United States under-23 (Olympic) national team, plays at Virginia with KENNY ARENA, whose father, BRUCE, is a former coach of the Cavaliers and D.C. United and is the current national team coach. 

University of Virginia men's soccer player Alecko Eskandarian (Montvale, N.J./Bergen Catholic) was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's Co-Player of the Week . He shared the weekly honor with North Carolina's David Testo. The honor marks the third time this season Eskandarian has been honored as either the ACC Player or Co-Player of the Week in men's soccer. He was also recognized as the ACC Co-Player of the Week on September 4th and as the ACC Player of the Week on October 21st. 

Eskandarian, a third-year forward, scored his team-leading 21st goal of the season when he scored his sixth game-winning goal of the year to lift Virginia to an important 1-0 victory over the Maryland Terrapins in an ACC contest on November 1st. 

For the season, Eskandarian has started all 15 games he has appeared in and has recorded 46 points resulting from 21 goals and four assists. His 21 goals this year is tied for the second most goals scored in a single season at Virginia, his 46 points this year is the fourth highest single season total ever at UVa and his six game-winning goals this year is tied for the sixth highest single season mark for a Cavalier. 

For his career, Eskandarian has recorded 105 points (tied for seventh all-time at Virginia), scored 69 goals (sixth all-time at UVa) and scored 15 game-winning goals (third most in a career for a Cavalier). 

UNC's Testo, a senior forward, scored two goals for a total of four points last week as the Tar Heels downed UNC Wilmington and No. 6 Clemson. The Arden, N.C., native scored the game-winner in both of North Carolina's matches last week.

ALECKO ESKANDARIAN's Profile