CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior defender Andre Sherard was honored with the Mike Thompson Most Valuable Player Award for the third straight season to highlight the annual awards banquet for the North Carolina men's soccer team, held Friday, Jan. 18 at the Carolina Inn.

Other award winners in addition to Sherard included: junior midfielder Michael Callahan (Nicholas Douglass Potter Coaches Award), junior midfielder Garry Lewis (Tom Evins, Jr. Most Improved Player Award), senior goalkeeper Chris Litchford (Mercer Reynolds Tar Heel Award) and sophomore forward Bill Dworsky (Most Competitive Player Award).

Carolina's 2007 senior class of Sherard, Litchford, Abe Chenathara and Cameron Lewis addressed the crowd, which featured numerous UNC soccer alumni, Carolina Center Circle members, as well as family and friends.

Five-year Major League Soccer veteran Logan Pause of the Chicago Fire was a guest speaker. He was a member of the Tar Heels' 2001 national championship squad and is a native of Hillsborough.

Despite missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 1998 season, the future is bright for the Tar Heels. UNC returns five of its top six scorers next season, including scoring leaders Dworsky and Callahan.