March 7, 2007

Amherst, Mass. - Former UMass Women's Soccer player Debbie Belkin was selected as one of fourteen finalists to be inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y. Belkin, who played defense for the Minutewomen from 1985-87 was a three-time first team All- American and a three time All- New England defender. In 1998 she was inducted into the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame. Belkin took home the Soccer America MVP two times and was on the All-Decade Team. In her career at Massachusetts, Belkin scored 25 goals and assisted on 20 in her 78 games played.

Below is the press release from the National Soccer Hall of Fame

ONEONTA, N.Y. - The National Soccer Hall of Fame released the 2007 Veteran's Final Ballot today. If a veteran player is elected through this process, the player will be honored at Induction 2007, presented by The Century Council's Girl Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking.

The Veteran's Screening Committee, consisting of 16 Hall of Famer's, selected fourteen finalists from the 336 eligible players who are listed on the Hall of Fame's web site, www.soccerhall.org. The finalists include 1950's American Soccer League champion John "Harp" O'Connell, and North American Soccer League and U.S. International stars Brian Quinn, Bob Rigby, Kyle Rote, and Bobby Smith. Also on the ballot are NASL and International stars George Best of Northern Ireland, Hubert Birkenmeier from Germany, Teofilo "Nene" Cubillas former captain of Peru, and Steve David from Trinidad & Tobago. Joining them on the ballot are U.S. Men's National Team players Desmond Armstrong, Bruce Murray, and Hugo Perez who played in the era between the NASL and current professional league Major League Soccer. ?In addition to the twelve male finalists, 1991 Women's World Cup Champions Debbie Belkin Radamacher and Linda Hamilton were chosen for the final ballot. Appearing on the Veteran's Ballot for the first time are Steve David, Bruce Murray, and Hugo Perez.

"Just to be selected as one of the fourteen players on the final ballot is a significant accomplishment, considering the caliber of the 336 players who were eligible," Hall of Fame President George Brown (Hall of Fame Class of 1995) stated. "Each of the finalists has had a remarkable playing career and any one of them would be worthy of selection to the Hall."

All Hall of Famers are eligible to vote on the final Veteran's Ballot. The Veteran receiving the most votes is elected to the Hall of Fame as long as the vote total is at least 50% of the ballots cast. A second veteran may be elected if that individual receives a minimum of 80% of the vote.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame will announce the results of the voting later this month. Those elected will be honored the weekend of August 24 - 26th at the Wright National Soccer Campus in Oneonta, NY. The Hall of Fame already announced the Player Inductees, two-time World Cup and Olympic Champions Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm. The two new inductees are the first all-women player class.