Kene Eze Named Coursen Award Honoree
Oct 05 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (October 5, 2014) - Former Rutgers men's soccer forward Kene Eze (Sayerville, N.J.) was honored with Donald Leslie Coursen Award at halftime of Saturday's Rutgers-Michigan Football game. The Coursen Award is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a Rutgers student-athlete.
The Donald Leslie Coursen Award is presented each year to a member of the graduating class, who during his career at the university has participated in intercollegiate athletics and proved himself an athlete of outstanding ability, and has represented Rutgers to the highest of standards.
"Kene is our first Coursen Award winner since arriving at Rutgers four years ago. Our staff is very proud of his accomplishments and we are thrilled to see him recognized for all his efforts and sacrifices over the years at Rutgers," said Rutgers men's soccer head coach Dan Donigan. "We wish Kene the best of luck with his future and we are proud to have had him in a Rutgers University men's soccer uniform and represent our great university. He will forever be remembered as a person who helped elevate our program on and off the field."
Eze was drafted in the MLS SuperDraft, selected by Toronto FC with the third pick of the fourth round. The former Scarlet Knight ended his career "On The Banks" with 22 goals, eight assists and 52 points after transferring to Rutgers in making the rare transition from Division III to Division I.
Eze's senior season saw the Scarlet Knight earn a nod to the Third Team NSCAA/Continental Tire Division I Men's Soccer All-Northeast Region squad and help his Scarlet Knights to the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. During his senior campaign, Eze tied as the Scarlet Knights' leader in points (20) and finished the season with a team-leading eight goals along with four assists. He exploded for four goals in the AAC play-in game victory over Cincinnati, marking the most goals by a player in the American in 2013. He played a vital role as eighth-seeded Rutgers reached the conference semifinals, which included an upset victory over seventh ranked and regular season champion Louisville in the quarterfinals.
As a junior in 2012, Eze led the team in scoring with eight goals, including four game-winners, and 17 points en-route to earning Second Team All-BIG EAST honors. His four game-winners tied for seventh all-time in the Rutgers record books, which included a golden goal against Villanova and another against Louisville, giving the Scarlet Knights its first win over the Cardinals since 2008.
Upon first arriving at Rutgers, Eze made an immediate impact with the Scarlet Knights as he led the team in the Fall of 2011 with six goals and three assists for 15 points in helping RU return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. The Scarlet Knights upset fourth-seeded Boston College in second round action and reached the third round of the tournament for the first time since 2001.
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-RU-
