BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- Eleven student-athletes from five universities – including four from national semifinalist Wake Forest – have been named to the 2006 North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) University Division All-State Men’s Soccer Team.

Scott Jones, UNCG

The 2006 NCCSIA men’s soccer university division all-state team is headed by UNC Greensboro senior forward Randi Patterson, the only unanimous selection.  Wake Forest defender Julian Valentin and UNCG midfielder Scott Jones were both named on all but one ballot.

In addition to the quartet of Demon Deacons, Campbell placed three members on the all-state unit, while UNCG had two.  Charlotte and Elon were represented as well.

Two players who earned All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America were also named to the all-state squad.  Valentin was a second-team choice, while Jones was a third-team All-America pick.  Seven all-state choices also appeared on the NSCAA All-South Region unit.

Founded in 2002, The North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) is composed of sports information professionals from NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions from the state of North Carolina.  The purpose of the organization is to promote collegiate athletics at all schools.  Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina, and whose area of responsibility lies within sports information.

NCSSIA selects all-state teams in the University (Division I) and College (Division II, III, NAIA) divisions for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, softball and baseball.

North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association

Pos., Name, Class, School, Hometown

GK: Brian Edwards *, Jr., Wake Forest, Charlotte, N.C.

D: Julian Valentin *, Jr., Wake Forest, Lancaster, Pa.

D: Devin Sheppard **, Sr., Campbell, Roxborough, Tobago

D: Evan Harding *, Sr., Charlotte, Matthews, N.C.

MF: Scott Jones ***, Sr., UNC Greensboro, Dallas, Texas

MF: Richard Jata *, So., Campbell, Port Richey, Fla.

MF: Steven Curfman *, Sr., Wake Forest, Cary, N.C.

MF: Wells Thompson *, Sr., Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, N.C.

F: Randi Patterson *** #, Sr., UNC Greensboro, Hackensack, N.J.

F: Willy Guadarrama **, Sr., Campbell, Cedar Park, Texas

F: Kiki Willis **, So., Elon, Youngstown, Ohio

* indicates number of career all-state selections                                                            
# unanimous selection

Red-shirt junior Brian Edwards was named the all-state keeper after playing all 2382 minutes in goal for Wake Forest this year.  The Charlotte resident posted a 0.72 goals-against average and 13 shutouts, ranking 21st nationally and second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in GAA.  He holds school single-season and career shutouts records.

Valentin, a junior defender from Lancaster, Pa., added all-state honors to second-team NSCAA All-America and first-team All-South Region recognition.  He started all 25 games for the second-ranked Demon Deacons, who finished 18-3-4 and set a school record with 13 shutouts.  All four of his goals were either game winners or tied the contest.

A senior midfielder from Cary, Steven Curfman led the Demon Deacons with 20 points on six goals and eight assists.  Fellow midfielder Wells Thompson – a Winston-Salem product – topped Wake in goals (7) and game-winners (5).

UNC Greensboro tandem Scott Jones and Randi Patterson each gained all-state honors for the third-straight season after leading the Spartans to a 16-8-1 record and the Southern Conference title.  Jones was also a third-team NSCAA All-America and first-team All-South Region choice.  He also became UNCG’s first-ever, four-time, first-team all-conference selection.  He finished fifth on UNCG’s all-time assists list (41) while ranking second on the team this year in scoring with 23 points (7 goals, 9 assists).  Five of the Dallas Texas native’s seven goals were game-winners, including both of UNCG’s NCAA Tournament wins.

A senior forward from Hackensack, N.J., Patterson led the team in scoring with 27 points on 13 goals and one assist.  With 141 career points (61 goals), he finished fifth on the all-time charts at UNCG.  In addition, Patterson was a second-team All-South Region choice and three-time, first-team All-SoCon selection.

Campbell’s trio of Willy Guadarrama, Richard Jata and Devin Sheppard also gained all-state honors in addition to all-region recognition.  The Fighting Camels posted consecutive winning records for the first time since 1995-96 and lost only once (4-1-2) in regular season Atlantic Sun Conference play this fall.

A senior defender from Roxborough, Tobago, Sheppard led the CU defense to lowest goals-against average in Atlantic Sun Conference… He was a first-team Academic All-America® selection by CoSIDA and also named first-team all-conference and third-team All-South.  Sheppard led the Camels to a 1-0 win over number-three North Carolina and a number-10 ranking in final South Region poll.

In his first season at Campbell, Jata gained second-team NSCAA All-South Region and first-team Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors.  He tied for second among A-Sun leaders in points (21), while ranking second in assists (7), and fifth in goals (7).  The Port Richey, Fla., sophomore, who transferred from Furman, was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week on Aug. 27 and tabbed A-Sun Player of the Week on Sept. 25.

Guadarrama was also a second-team All-South and first-team All-Atlantic Sun Conference pick, while also earning A-Sun All-Tournament honors.  He was also one of 58 Division I players chosen to participate in the MLS Combine in January.  The Cedar Park, Texas product led the A-Sun in game-winning goals (4), while ranking second in goals scored (9) and points (21).  He finished his three-year career tied for 12th among Campbell’s all-time goal scoring leaders (36), while ranking 13th in points (82) in 56 matches.

Senior defender Evan Harding represented the Charlotte 49ers on the all-state and first-team All-Atlantic 10 squads.  A two-year team captain, the Matthews, N.C., resident finished tied for fourth on the team with four goals.  He was the leader of a 49ers defense that recorded seven shutouts and limited 13 foes to a goal or less this past season.