JAMAICA, N.Y. -- The St. Johns mens soccer team excelled both on the field and in the classroom during the 2000 season. The University has announced that 17 members of the mens soccer team maintained a 3.0 grade point average or better during the 2000 Fall semester. Some of last seasons standouts were among those also attaining academic success.

"We're very proud of the guys on our team," St. John's Head Coach Dave Masur said. "This program takes pride in having student-athletes who work as hard on the field as they do in the classroom. They try to excel in both arenas and this is proof of that hard work."

Coach Masur expected big things from senior goalkeeper Jeffrey Stoklosa (Newark, Del./Salesianum) this year and he got them, in both the goal and the classroom. Stoklosa achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA while allowing just 11 goals during the season. Stoklosa, a communications major, was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season.

Senior defender Omar Chavez (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle/Felician), fine arts major, managed a 3.0 GPA while leading a St. Johns defense that recorded 10 shutouts and allowed only 14 goals, including just four in the BIG EAST. Chavez, the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week three times last season, started all 21 games for the Red Storm and was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team.

Junior midfielder Jeff Matteo (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay), a telecommunications major, obtained a 3.6 GPA and collected seven assists during the fall. Matteo, an All-BIG EAST First Team selection, helped the Red Storm advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Freshman Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) made a splash during his first season with the Red Storm. A communications major, Wingert was able to maintain a 3.7 GPA and play in all 21 games last season. Wingert was named to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team for his strong performances at the midfield position.

Below is a complete list of the Red Storm players who posted a grade point average of 3.0 or higher: Matt Bladassano (Staten Island, N.Y./Xavier) Computer Science James Bentley (Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford) Undecided Rich Bradley (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) Fine Arts Omar Chavez (New Rochelle, N.Y./Felician) Fine Arts Matia Damiani (Foggia, Italy/A Volia) Undecided Alberto Duenas (Hawthorne, Calif./Junpero Serra) Fine Arts Henry Galeano (Flushing, N.Y./John Bowne) Speech Eric Hanson (Rochester, Minn./Rochester Lourdes) Undecided Patrick Lonergan (Millington, N.J./Delbarton) Speech Jeff Matteo (Stormville, N.Y./John Jay) Telecommunications Ernest Murduk (Corona, N.Y./Forest Hills) Speech Dave ODonnell (Nashua, N.H./Bradenton) Speech Angel Rodriguez (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) Speech Jeff Stoklosa (Newark,Del./Salesianum) Telecommunications Paul Szewczyk (Staffoshire, England/Wolgarston) Speech Anthony Theorides (Astoria, N.Y./New York Tech) Communications Christopher Wingert (Babylon, N.Y/St. John the Baptist)Communications