March 26, 2008
PHILADELPHIA -
Three Temple University standouts, John Boles, Benny McLaughlin and Larry Sullivan, will be inducted into the Inaugural North Catholic High School Soccer Hall of Fame on Sunday, March 30 at Romano's Caterers In Philadelphia. Temple's own Walter Bahr, a 1944 All-America selection at Temple, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.
Boles, who earned All-America status in 1966 at Temple, guided the Owls to 199 wins in his 21 seasons at the helm of the program (1974-94). Inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985, the two-time team MVP helped lead the Cherry and White to the 1966 NCAA Tournament as a senior, where they defeated West Virginia (4-0) before falling to Michigan State in the Elite Eight (3-1). As a coach, he guided Temple to three NCAA Tournaments and 13 double-digit win seasons. His 1985 team posted a 14-0-2 regular season mark and entered the NCAA Tournament ranked 17th nationally. The Owls lost to Penn State, 6-5, in a thrilling first round match that was decided by penalty kicks. The 14 wins tied the still-standing school-record that had been initially set by Boles' 1983 squad.
Inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979, McLaughlin earned All-America honors in 1946, helping lead the Owls to an undefeated season (6-0-1). He later went on to play for the United States at the 1948 Olympic Games and also was part of the 1949 USA team that qualified to play in the 1950 World Cup in Mexico. A 12-time member on the U.S. National team, his playing resume also includes 10 years of professional soccer.
Sullivan, who recently retired after 17 seasons and over 100 victories as the Villanova men's soccer coach, played three years as a fullback with the Owls (1970-72) under the tutelage of the Soccer Hall of Famers Pete Leaness and Bahr.
Also being inducted into the Inaugural North High School Soccer Hall of Fame are Ed Blaney '69, Don D'Ambra '90, Joseph "Pete" Hess '47, former Temple men's soccer coach Hugh McInaw '67, Fr. Daniel McLernan '34, Joe McLernan '45, Pat Morris '95, Ed Sheridan '75. and Tom Smith '66.
