Nov. 1, 2007

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Three Wake Forest men's soccer players were recognized for their talent on the field and in the classroom by earning spots on ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-District team.

Junior Co-Captain Sam Cronin was named to the District III Second Team, marking his first national academic honors. The midfielder has started every game for the Demon Deacons since his freshman season, tallying 63 starts overall. This season, the Winston-Salem native has landed two goals and four assists, brining his career total to six goals and 11 assists. Cronin is working towards a degree in political science and has earned back-to-back spots on the ACC's Honor Roll.

Senior Co-Captain Julian Valentin took First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Valentin has been a regular Wake Forest Dean's List member as well as an ACC Honor Roll member since his freshman season. After missing the first few games of the 2007 season due to injuries, Valentin has returned to guide the Deacs with seven starts through the last nine matches. The Lancaster, Pa. native scored his first goal of the season against Coastal Carolina on October 23, brining the defender's career total to 10 goals and five assists.

Sophomore Zack Schilawski, a forward from Cary, N.C., placed on the District III First Team. Schilawski has four goals in 2007, including two game-winning goals, setting his career total at 10 goals and seven assists. Schilawski, who served as president of Cary High School's National Honor Society chapter, was named to the 2006 ACC Academic Honor Roll as well as WFU's Dean's List.

To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must have played in 50 percent of the team's games, be of sophomore standing academically and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.2.