Nov. 20, 2007

DALLAS (SMU) - The accolades continue to come in for SMU midfielder Ben Shuleva, who was named third-team Academic All-America Monday by CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine. The senior from Dublin, Ohio, is majoring in finance and has a team-leading 3.92 GPA.

The All-America honor is the third academic-based honor this season for Shuleva. Earlier this season, he was named (along with junior forward Scott Geppert) to the ESPN The Magazine All-District team, and he, Geppert and senior goalkeeper Steve Sandbo were named to the Conference USA All-Academic team.

Since transferring from St. John's, Shuleva has been a stalwart in the Mustangs' midfield. He has started all 42 games since his arrival on the Hilltop, immediately establishing himself as the team's top defensive midfielder. As a senior, he has increased his impact in the SMU offense, registering seven points this season on three goals (on just nine shots on goal) and an assist, and earning a Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week award earlier this season.

Shuleva and the No. 5 Mustangs (13-4-2) host Gonzaga in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. this Saturday at Westcott Field. For ticket information, log on to SMUMustangs.com.