Wesleyan University

Evan Berding, a senior at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and a resident of Roanoke, Va., was selected to play in the annual New England Intercollegiate Soccer League (NEISL) senior all-star game, it was announced recently. The game, which brings together outstanding players from all three NCAA divisions throughout the region, will be held at Babson College in Babson Park, Mass. Saturday, April 23.

A first-team all-NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Association) selection in 2002 and a second-team pick in both 2003 and 2004, Berding was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter at forward for the Cardinals. His finest year came in 2002 when he netted a team-high 10 goals along with three assists for 23 scoring points. In 2004, Berding scored two goals along with an assist, bringing his career totals to 15 goals and five assists for 35 points. Berding also was named a second-team New England Division III all-star by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 2002. His 10-goal total that year was the highest output by a Wesleyan male player since Amos Magee, the college's all-time leading scorer and a current professional player in both the MLS and the A-League, netted 11 goals during the 1991 season.

Over Berding's career, Wesleyan men's soccer posted three winning seasons, including a 9-6-1 mark in 2004, and a cumulative record of 33-24-4.

The son of Kate and Bart Berding of 2814 South Jefferson Street in Roanoke, Berding is a 2001 graduate of Roanoke Catholic High School where he earned four letters in soccer and was a team MVP, named best offensive player and received all-conference honors. He also lettered four times in both track and cross country at Roanoke Catholic, receiving MVP accolades in the former.

At Wesleyan, Berding is majoring in sociology.

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