Charlotte 49ers Set To Retire Three Soccer Jerseys

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte 49ers Athletic Department will recognize its first three soccer players in its jersey retirement program. The 49ers are set to retire the jerseys of Gabe Garcia and Randy Sheen in a halftime ceremony of the Charlotte - Duke soccer match at Transamerica Field, Oct. 27. Aidan Heaney, the third player that the department selected, was unavailable due to his college coaching duties, and will be recognized at a March 3 ceremony, during the homecoming activities of the 49ers basketball game vs. DePaul.

Garcia, Heaney and Sheen were three players who served as the cornerstone of the 49ers soccer program as it first stepped into the national spotlight.

Garcia (1988-91), a high-scoring striker from Helotes, Texas, is the program's first All-America (1991), third all-time leading scorer with 39 career goals and he ranks third all-time with 97 career points (39 goals; 19 assists). The 49ers only two-time conference Player of the Year, Garcia was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 1990 and was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year of the Metro Conference in 1991. Also the 49ers only three-time All-South Region selection, Garcia helped lead Charlotte to its first NCAA Tournament (1991) and its first appearance in the national poll, as Charlotte rose to #4 in the country after starting the 1991 season 13-0-3.

Sheen (1990-94), a brilliant midfielder from Dallas, Texas, is one of the program's two four-time all-conference selections, the school's second all-time assist leader and was named honorable mention all-America by Soccer News in 1994. That same year, he was named the Metro Conference's Defensive Player of the Year as he led the 49ers to their highest-ever national ranking: #2 in the National Coaches' poll and #1 in the final South Region Rankings. A two-time team MVP, Sheen's 13 assists in 1994 are second on the Niners' single-season charts. He participated on two NCAA Tournament teams (1992, 1994) and scored the game-winning goal as the 49ers toppled #1-ranked South Carolina to claim the 1994 Metro Conference Championship.

Heaney (1988-91), an impenetrable goalkeeper from Newcastle, England, still holds the 49ers single-season and career records for goals against average and shutouts. He was named Metro Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 as the 49ers earned their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth and national ranking. A two-time All-South Region selection, he earned first-team All-South honors after posting school records with 13 shutouts and a miniscule 0.40 goals against average in 1991. The backbone of the 49ers defensive unit that was dubbed "The No-Goal Patrol", Heaney enjoyed a string of five straight shutouts that season and allowed just nine goals in 21 games played as the 49ers rose as high as #4 in the national polls. A two-time team MVP, Heaney earned all-conference honors three times.

To be eligible for jersey retirement, a 49ers student-athlete must graduate, be named All-America or Conference Player of the Year, have enjoyed team success during his or her career and exhibit strong character. In addition, multiple all-conference selections, all-region or district honors and academic honors can be considered.

To date, eight basketball jerseys (Cedric Maxwell; Melvin Watkins; Henry Williams; Byron Dinkins; Jarvis Lang; DeMarco Johnson; Charles Hayward and Paula Bennett) have been retired. Three baseball players (Barry Shifflett, Tim Collie and Joey Anderson) have had their jerseys retired.