UConn's White named Men's Player of the Year

• by Soccer America , Dec 21, 2007

[SOCCER AMERICA AWARDS] In the long and storied history of Connecticut soccer, there has never been a striker like O'Brian White.
Born in Jamaica and now residing in Scarborough, Ont., White was named Soccer America's 2007 Men's Player of the Year after a record-setting season.

He broke the UConn record with 23 goals and led all Division I players with 23 goals and 53 assists. (Teammate Mike Pezza led the country with 20 assists.)

White, whose 23 goals included three hat tricks and the first back-to-back hat tricks in UConn history, surpassed his combined totals for his first two seasons with the Huskies. While he won Big East Rookie of the Year honors with 10 goals in 2005, he slumped to seven goals in 2006.

After a disappointing season for White and the Huskies in 2006, he came back more focused and helped them earn a No. 1 ranking in the final Soccer America Top 25 rankings of the regular season and a Big East title. UConn advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to Virginia Tech, 1-0, in a match played in the mud.

The junior's success made him a target of MLS clubs -- his hometown Toronto FC could certainly use his talents up front -- but he delighted UConn fans with his announcement in mid-December that he was returning for his senior year.

"We accomplished so much this year," he said, "but fell a step short of reaching the College Cup and I want another chance to reach college soccer's ultimate event with my teammates."