DePaul University Athletics
Mangan a Finalist for Prestigious Honor
10/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S SOCCER
Oct. 6, 2010
CHICAGO - An "aw-shucks" kind of smile crept across his face Wednesday as Alex Mangan found out he truly is one of a kind.
Mangan became the first DePaul soccer player ever to be selected as a national top 10 finalist for the prestigious Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
The men's and women's soccer winners will be presented with their awards during the 2010 NCAA Men's and Women's College Cup Championships in December.
Fans can vote for Mangan online through Nov. 14 at www.seniorCLASSaward.com
"I'm honored and thrilled," said Mangan, who leads DePaul with four goals and is tied for first in the BIG EAST Conference with three game-winners. "I was flattered back in August to even be considered for such an award.
"I'm really thankful for all the support from the athletic department staff, my coaches and teammates. It's great for people to see DePaul soccer in the national spotlight."
The Lowe's Senior CLASS Award goes to the top all-around soccer athlete who best excels on the field and in the classroom while also engaging in community service and demonstrating a high degree of character.
Mangan has a 3.86 grade-point average as a graduate student majoring in Organizational Communications. He graduated cum laude last June with an undergraduate degree in Communications.
"What I'm happiest about is that I get to play on a team with a great bunch of guys," Mangan said. "With apologies to all my former teammates, but this is my favorite team. All the young players we have---these are my guys, and I'm having so much fun with them.
"This is a great honor, and not so much for the soccer. It's about my character and how I've faced so much adversity. That's what I'd like to leave behind for the younger guys.
"Coming to DePaul is all about becoming a good soccer player. But most importantly, it's about becoming a good man."
Mangan will lead the Blue Demons into a 7 p.m. rivalry match Wednesday against Northwestern in Evanston.
"This is just awesome," said DePaul coach Craig Blazer about the national recognition. "He has taken on any challenge that has come his way and made the most of every opportunity.
"It's been a pleasure to have him as a positive role model, and I'm so proud of him."
In the summer of 2005 before arriving at DePaul, Mangan broke his left foot. After getting a doctor's clearance to play, Mangan broke his right foot one day before the season-opener and never saw the field.
A year later, he sustained a serious head injury during a game at Marquette and was unconscious until arriving at the hospital. He missed the next five games.
In 2008 he tore the ACL in his left knee in the first half of the season-opener against Valparaiso. He missed that entire season and was granted a medical hardship by the NCAA.