May 12, 2009

NORFOLK, VA--Two former Soccer Monarch greats, Carlos Mendes ('02) and David Horst ('08) are on Major League Soccer rosters this season, as starters.

Carlos Mendes is beginning his fifth season with the New York Red Bull and has thus far started every game on defense as a centerback. The 5-11 native of Mineola, NY has played in a total of 95 games over four years. He was converted to a holding midfielder in 2008. Despite undergoing hernia surgery, he returned and played in three playoff games, while starting in the MLS Championship Cup Final last season.

While at ODU, Mendes earned CAA All-Tournament honors in 2001 and was a three-time first team All-CAA selection. In 1998, he was named CAA Rookie of the Year.

David Horst, who was selected in the first round (14th overall) in the 2008 SuperDraft has already started two games for Real Salt Lake. Horst was a two-time CAA Defender of the Year, earning those honors in 2006 and 2007.

He was named second team all-American in 2007 by Collegesoccernews.com and earned All-CAA honors four times. The Pine Grove, PA native helped lead ODU to the 2007 CAA Championship, four straight NCAA Tournaments, including two NCAA College Cup round of 16 appearances.