LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - Drake athletes continue to excel beyond their collegiate careers.

Former women's basketball standout Lindsay Whorton was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholar this week, while former Drake men's soccer standout Ezra Hendrickson earned his third career Major League Soccer Cup championship when the Columbus Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls, 3-1, Sunday before a crowd of 27,000, at the Home Depot Center.

The Crew, one of the league's charter teams, was making its first appearance in the final in its 13-year history.

The Crew went 17-7-6 and won the Supporters' Shield, which goes to the team with the best regular-season record.

Hendrickson, a tall, skillful defender with attacking instincts, completed his 12th MLS season, having also earned MLS Cup titles in 2004 while playing for D.C. United and in 2002 with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Hendrickson played at Drake from 1990-93 where he became the school's lone All-American earning third team honors as a senior. He was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer and a two-time Academic All-MVC selection.

He was honored with the Jerry Howlett Award for most outstanding student-athlete as a senior.  Hendrickson earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Drake in 1994.