Nov. 19, 2007

QUEENS, N.Y. - Senior defender Jeff Stepan of the Red Storm men's soccer team has been named a 2007 First Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and ESPN the Magazine.

This is the second straight year that Stepan has been named a First Team Academic All-American. He becomes the third player in St. John's men's soccer history to be named a First Team Academic All-American at least twice. A 2007 tri-captain, Stepan has maintained a 3.99 GPA while majoring in chemistry. Earlier this month he was also named to the Academic All-District First Team by CoSIDA for the second consecutive year.

Stepan started all 21 games this season for the Red Storm. The defender tallied four goals and an assist for nine points and tied for the team lead in both goals and points. The four goals also tied a career high for Stepan. In a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh on September 23, Stepan had his first career multi-goal game and tallied his second career game-winning goal. Those efforts, combined with his defensive efforts in a 1-0 shutout against then-No. 5 West Virginia, earned Stepan BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors on September 24. Stepan scored his first goal of the season against Virginia Tech on September 8. In a 2-2 tie with Seton Hall in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament he added a goal and an assist before St. John's advanced with a 3-2 shootout win.

In addition to his academic honors this year Stepan also earned All-BIG EAST honors for the first time in his career as he was named to the conference's second team.