Indiana University Athletics
Former Hoosiers Named to USL Teams of the Week
7/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
June 26, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - A pair of former Hoosiers were named to the United Soccer League (USL) Teams of the Week recently. Lazo Alavanja (1995-98) and Josh Rife (2000-01) earned the honor for week nine. Alavanja plays in the USL First Division with the Charleston Battery, while Rife is a defender for the USL Second Division Charlotte Eagles.
Alavanja was named to the First Division Team of the Week after scoring a goal and assisting on another in the Charleston Battery's 2-1 win over first-place Richmond (26 points with a record of 8-4-2). The three-time Hoosier All-American has played in 14 matches, making 12 starts for the Battery, who are fifth in the USL First Division with 17 points (5-8-2). Alavanja has six points on two goals and two assists for the Battery.
Alavanja is in his first season with the Battery after spending the winter playing in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the Chicago Storm. He was a first round pick (fourth overall) by the Dallas Burn in the 1999 Major League Soccer (MLS) Draft. He spent four years in the MLS with the Dallas Burn (1999-00), Miami Fusion (2001) and D.C. United (2002). He played a total of 58 matches, making 36 starts with two goals and eight assists during those four seasons.
Rife earned his second team of the week honor for the USL Second Division. The former two-time All-Big Ten selection turned in a solid defensive performance in the Charlotte Eagle's 1-0 victory over the then-first-place Wilmington Hammerheads. The victory propelled the Eagles to the top spot in the Second Division with 25 points, a record of 8-3-1. Rife has started and played every minute as a defender in all 12 matches for the Eagles. He is in his third season with the Eagles. Rife also was honored in week two for his performance against Harrisburg.
