Nusum Garners Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year Honors

May 10, 2005

Former Furman men's soccer standout and current Philadelphia KiXX forward John Barry Nusum was named the Major Indoor Soccer League's 2004-05 Rookie of the Year last week following balloting of the league's media and team personnel.

Nusum gained 78 percent of the first-place votes and was the only Rookie of the Year candidate to appear on every ballot cast. The 23-year-old Devonshire, Bermuda, native tallied 28 goals, 17 assists and 45 total points during the 2004-05 season to lead all rookies and rank in the MISL top-10 overall. The former Furman All-American helped the KiXX to a 22-17 mark and league semifinals appearance.

Nusum, who completed his Paladin career in 2001 as Furman's all-time leader in goals (65) and career points (161) before being drafted by Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, was named Bermuda's Male Athlete of the Year last month.

Nusum, a consensus all-american selection as a senior at Furman in 2001, tallied five goals for Bermuda in World Cup qualifying against Montserrat before registering two goals as Bermuda was eliminated by El Salvador last year.