JAMAICA, N.Y. -- Three members of the eighth-ranked St. Johns University mens soccer team were selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas All-New York Region First Team, it was announced today by John Astudillo, the mens soccer coach at Buffalo and New York State Chairman.

Red Storm seniors Jeff Matteo (Stormville, N.Y.) and Shalrie Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y.), along with sophomore Chris Wingert (Babylon, N.Y.), who serve as the teams tri-captains, were selected to the first team.

That threesome led the Red Storm to their sixth BIG EAST Tournament Championship in the last 10 years with a 1-0 win over Connecticut on November 18. St. Johns takes its next step toward its second NCAA Championship when they host 17th-ranked Penn State at Stiles Field on Saturday at Adelphi University. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

Matteo, a first-team All-BIG EAST selection who was named the conferences Midfielder of the Year, leads the Red Storm in scoring with eight goals and four assists for 20 points. He has earned All-BIG EAST honors in each of his four years at St. Johns.

Joseph, also a first-team BIG EAST selection, is third on the team in scoring with six goals and three assists for 15 points. A first-team All-BIG EAST selection last year, he led the team in scoring with 14 goals and two assists for 30 points. Injuries forced him to move to defense this year, but he has since moved back to his natural forward position, and has scored the game-winning goal in three of the last four games.

Wingert, just a sophomore, has guided a Red Storm defense that ranks among the best in the country. St. Johns has shut out 11 opponents, allowed only 10 goals and all season and has a team goals against average of 0.55, which ranks among the top-10 in the country. He is fourth on the team in scoring with six goals for 12 points.

The Red Storm beat Massachusetts last Sunday, 1-0, at Adelphi to reach the Sweet 16 for the sixth-straight year, becoming one of only two Division I schools to accomplish that feat (Indiana) in that span. St. Johns will be seeking its first Elite Eight appearance since 1998 when they face off against Penn State tomorrow at noon at Adelphi.