50@50: Men’s soccer team wins first national championship in 1982


To celebrate the university’s 50th anniversary, FIU News is sharing 50 moments in FIU’s history as part of our “50@50″ series.

By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

Former FIU men’s soccer defender Warren McCraw and his teammates all received a championship ring after winning the NCAA Division II national championship soccer title in 1982.

It was the first time an FIU program won a national championship and, for McCraw, the ring serves as a daily reminder of that historic accomplishment almost 33 years later.

“I still wear it everyday to this day,” McCraw said. “Being a part of that team was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a memory I’ll never forget.”

Led by Coach Karl Kremser, the Sunblazers defeated Rollins, Tampa and Oakland in the championship tournament to set up a title match against the Southern Connecticut State Owls at FIU Soccer Stadium Dec. 4, 1982.

In front of 1,300 fans, FIU jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from leading-scorer Hermann-Josef Engels in the 37th minute and another from Max Rodriguez in the 46th minute.

The Owls struck back with a goal in the 80th minute to pull back within a goal of tying the game. A furious rallying effort by South Connecticut State in the final minutes of play tested the Sunblazers’ back line, which included McCraw at left back.

But the stellar play of the Sunblazers defenders and goalkeeper Everton Edwards helped FIU hold on for a 2-1 victory and the celebration begun.

“It was a very aggressive game, especially toward the end,” McCraw said. “When you make it to the end and the final whistle blows, there’s a sense of excitement and relief that we actually were able to hold off that final barrage and achieve that ultimate goal of winning a championship.”

McCraw graduated from FIU with a degree in construction management and has spent the last 32 years as a chief estimator for Balfour Beatty Construction in Fort Lauderdale.

His company has been involved with the construction of several buildings on campus; McCraw recently worked on the price and budgeting estimation for the new Student Academic Support Center, which is currently under construction next to the Graham Center.

“It gives me a lot of pride to give back and participate in a project that is going to help the university,” McCraw said. “The neat thing about it is that it gives me a connection to the university.”

1982 FIU Men's Soccer: Standing (left to right): Athletic Trainer Armando Exposito, Athletic Director Nancy Olson, Glen Walters, Egbert Chase, Dale Schilly, Joseph Marshall, Warren McGraw, Everton Edwards, Wade Denero, Hermann-Josef Engels, Eyvind Olsen, Blanca Bowman, Head Coach Karl Kremser, Athletic Trainer Steve Frantz. Kneeling (left to right): Max Rodriguez, Tom Sedita, Ben Collins, Tim Amato, Greg Anderson, Brian Dooley, Carlos Izurieta, Socrates Athanasopoulos.

1982 FIU Men’s Soccer: Standing (left to right): Athletic Trainer Armando Exposito, Athletic Director Nancy Olson, Glen Walters, Egbert Chase, Dale Schilly, Joseph Marshall, Warren McGraw, Everton Edwards, Wade Denero, Hermann-Josef Engels, Eyvind Olsen, Blanca Bowman, Head Coach Karl Kremser, Athletic Trainer Steve Frantz. Kneeling (left to right): Max Rodriguez, Tom Sedita, Ben Collins, Tim Amato, Greg Anderson, Brian Dooley, Carlos Izurieta, Socrates Athanasopoulos.