Dec. 10, 2010
CHICAGO - Senior defender Robert Younger, one of the most decorated backs in the Horizon League the past four years, was named an All-Region performer by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Friday. Younger, who missed the last five games of the campaign with a season-ending knee injury, was named to the Great Lakes Region third-team.
Younger was also named First-Team All-Horizon League at the end of the 2010 season. The Hull, England, native started the first 13 matches, anchoring a young defense that included a first-year starting goaltender in senior Steve Purdy. Younger then injured his knee against UMKC (Oct. 19), sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
In the Flames' 4-0 win over Wright State on Oct. 19, Younger scored his first-career goal. He finished his career in a Flames uniform with eight points, including six assists, and led UIC's back line to a total of 32 shutouts during his career.
The 2008 campaign was a breakout season for Younger - he was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, chalked up his initial first-team all-conference honor and collected second-team all-region plaudits. The Flames recorded 11 shutouts that season, and Younger helped anchor a team goals-against-average of 0.77. Two of those clean sheet outings came against Dayton and Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. During the month of September 2008, Younger was named the Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Month.
In 2007, the Flames recorded a school-record 14 shutouts and finished tops in the Horizon League, and 10th in the nation, in GAA (0.60). Younger picked up the first five points of his career during that campaign, and was also named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
