BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Richard Jata of Campbell University was selected second-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and was joined on the All-South Region teams by three Camels.

Defender Stephen Oyuga (Nairobi, Kenya) and Jata (Port Richey, Fla.) were tabbed for the All-South first-team, while keeper Aaron Johnson (St. Charles, Mo.) and midfielder Josue Soto (Monterrey, Mexico) represented Campbell on the all-region second unit.

Only once previously in its NCAA Division I era (since 1977) has Campbell had four players named to the All-South teams – in 1993 when Brian Hunter and Toni Siikala were named to the first team and Nick Lawler and Anthony Peacock received third-team honors.

"It goes without saying that I am so proud of these guys and what they have accomplished. They brought a lot to our team and environment over their time here," said seventh-year Camel head coach Doug Hess. "Each one is deserving of his recognition on the All-South teams and I am grateful for the opportunity to coach them."

The quartet played vital roles for the 2008 Fighting Camel squad that won its second A-Sun regular season championship and made its third trip to the league final in the last four years. Campbell concluded the season with a 14-6-0 (.700) overall record and a 9-0-0 A-Sun ledger, as well as its first-ever year-end national ranking and highest South Region rating in the program's Division I era.

Soccer America ranked the Camels number-25 in its final 2008 poll, while CU was rated third in the always-tough South Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. CU's winning percentage (.700) was the 20th-best of the 204 men's soccer programs in Division I.

Campbell finished the season with the nation's third-highest scoring attack at 2.2 goals per match. Only top-ranked Wake Forest (3.45 goals per game) and top-10 Loyola of Maryland (2.33) scored at a better clip among the nation's 204 Division I programs than the Camels. Campbell also broke a 38-year-old school record by winning 12-consecutive matches. That stretch included a 2-0 victory over seventh-ranked North Carolina. The triumph in front of 1,187 fans at the Eakes Athletic Complex was CU's third over the Tar Heels in the last three years.

In addition to his All-America and All-South honors, Jata was named 2008 Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year and added first-team all-conference honors for the third-straight season. The native of Port Richey, Fla., scored a career-high 28 points in 17 matches on 12 goals and four assists to lead the A-Sun goals (0.71) and points (1.65) per game.

Jata ranked 15th nationally in goals per game and 19th in points per outing and tied the A-Sun record with seven game-winning goals. He scored in each of his last nine games of 2008 and provided the winner in seven of those outings, while adding A-Sun all-tournament team honors in each of his final two seasons to his list of accomplishments.

During Jata's three-year career in Buies Creek, Campbell posted a 20-1-1 record in games when he scored, 8-1-0 in 2008. He finished his career with 12 game-winning goals, second-most in league history. In only 57 career games, Jata collected 71 points (15th in school history) on 28 goals and 15 assists. He was a second-team All-South pick in both 2006 and 2007.

Jata, who was invited to the Major League Soccer combine, stands as CU's first All-America choice since Willy Guadarrama gained third-team recognition after leading the country in goals and points per game in 2005.

"Richard is a unique player in that he can change games at the Division I college level in an instant," said Hess. "He is very much a soccer player. In this day and age we look too much for the ‘athlete' before the guy that can play. Richard thinks the game. Strong with either foot, excellent sense for the game; can beat you off the dribble, with his movement, on the pass or with a dead ball. I do believe he is that diamond in the rough coaches are looking for and hope that he will show what he is capable of at the MLS Combine."

Oyuga joined Johnson as the lone Camels to play every minute (1812) during the 2008 season. He also earned all-league honors for the third-straight year, including first-team recognition in the last two campaigns. The senior central defender from Nairobi, Kenya helped guide CU to the best team GAA (0.99) and most shutouts (9) in the A-Sun.

He made 60 career appearances with 57 starts in three seasons and twice earned league all-tournament team recognition (2007, 2008). Oyuga was named A-Sun defensive player of the week and to the Soccer America national team of the week (Nov. 3) after leading CU to shutout wins over number-7 North Carolina (2-0) and Mercer (3-0) to wrap up the team's perfect A-Sun regular season record.

Oyuga was invited to the United Soccer Leagues combine, which will be held Sunday through Tuesday at Charleston, S.C.

Johnson earned A-Sun defensive player of the year honors for the second time in his career. The senior from St. Charles., Mo., played every minute in the Camel nets this year (1812) and led the A-Sun in goals-against average (0.993), shutouts (9) and save percentage (.780).

He tied the school and league record for shutouts in a year, while compiling a school-record six of those in consecutive fashion from Oct. 18 through Nov. 4 and recording 649 shutout minutes in the process.

Johnson virtually rewrote Campbell's career goalkeeping record book during his four-year stint. He broke school keeper marks for matches played (74) and started (74), minutes played (6805) and career GAA (1.08). Johnson's 331 saves are second only to Peter Moore's 406 in the 46-year history of the Camel program. Moore is also the only Camel to record more career shutouts (24) than Johnson (21).

In A-Sun history, Johnson stands second in both career GAA and shutouts and sixth in saves. Johnson was named Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive player of the week three times in 2008 (Sept. 15, Oct. 13 and 27). The honors marked the fifth, sixth and seventh times in his career that Johnson earned league defender of the week recognition.

"The combination of Stephen and Aaron holding down things at the back has been a strength of our team the last three years," said Hess. "They are so solid in what they do on the field and in goal, respectively. Aaron shattered many of the longstanding goalkeeping records here at Campbell and in my mind is one of the single-most influential players that have played under me here. His competitive nature and ability to train day in and day out are second to none. Stephen grew so much in just three years. He came in as a midfielder and was able to adjust to become one of the most dominant central backs in the South Region. I expect each will have the opportunity to play at the next level and look forward to their continual development in the game."

Soto finished his sophomore year ranked fourth in the country in assists per game (0.61) with 11 over 18 contests. The midfielder from Monterrey, Mexico not only was named to the A-Sun first-team for the second-straight year, but he added all-league tournament honors to his resume as well.

In addition to topping the conference in assists, Soto ranked fourth in points (23) and points per game (1.28) while scoring six times. He dealt Campbell's first assists hat trick in 12 years in a 4-3 comeback win Oct. 16 against Lipscomb. He had a goal and two assists in a 7-1 A-Sun semifinal win over Belmont. Four of his 11 assists set up the game-winning goal this year. He was named third-team All-South as a freshman in 2007.

"Both Jata and Soto were a strong part of things going forward for our team over the last two season and accounted for many of the goals we scored, albeit assisting or scoring themselves," said Hess.

Defending national champion Wake Forest placed five players on the 2008 NSCAA/adidas Men's Division I All-America Team, including three first-team selections.

Earning first-team honors for the Demon Deacons were midfielders Corben Bone and Sam Cronin and forward Marcus Tracy. They were joined by second-team selection Ike Opara and third-team pick Cody Arnoux.

Six other schools placed two players on the team: Akron, Creighton, Harvard, Illinois-Chicago, Loyola (Md.) and Cal-Davis. Combined, the four teams competing in the NCAA Men's College Cup this weekend had eight players named, as Maryland, North Carolina and St. John's each had one player named to the team.

2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division I Men's All-America Team
First Team
Pos., Name, Class, School, Hometown
K, Jovan Bubonja, Jr., Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
D, Calum Angus *, Sr., Saint Louis, Portsmouth, England
D, Matthew Besler, Sr., Notre Dame, Overland Park, Kan.
D, Omar Gonzalez *, Jr., Maryland, Dallas, Texas
D, Tennant McVea, Jr., Loyola (Md.), Belfast, Northern Ireland
M, Corben Bone, So., Wake Forest, Dallas, Texas
M, Sam Cronin *, Sr., Wake Forest, Winston-Salem, N.C.
M, Andrei Gotsmanov, Sr., Creighton, Omaha, Neb.
M, Baggio Husidic, Jr., Illinois-Chicago, Libertyville, Ill.
F, Andre Akpan *, Jr., Harvard, Grand Prairie, Texas
F, Mike Grella *, Sr., Duke, Glen Cove, N.Y.
F, Marcus Tracy, Sr., Wake Forest, Newtown, Conn.
F, Steve Zakuani, So., Akron, London, England
Second Team
K, Milos Kocic, Jr., Loyola (Md.), Leskovac, Serbia
D, Joel Gustafsson, Jr., St. John's, Queens, N.Y.
D, Ike Opara, So., Wake Forest, Durham, N.C.
D, Chris Schuler, Jr., Creighton, Omaha, Neb.
M, Alejandro Bedoya *, Sr., Boston College, Weston, Fla.
M, Michael Callahan, Sr., North Carolina, Cary, N.C.
M, Richard Jata, Sr., Campbell, Port Richey, Fla.
M, J.T. Noone, Jr., Temple, Harrisburg, Pa.
F, Quincy Amarikwa, Sr., Cal-Davis, Bakersfield, Calif.
F, Doug DeMartin, Sr., Michigan State, Mason, Mich.
F, Mike Fucito *, Sr., Harvard, Westford, Mass.
F, Daniel Revivo, Sr., Winthrop, Richmond Hill, Ontario
F, Chris Salvaggione, Sr., Charlotte, Monument, Colo.
Third Team
K, Steward Ceus, Sr., Albany, Albany, N.Y.
D, Mark Blades, Jr., Northwestern, Lakewood, Ohio
D, Michael Holody, Sr., Michigan, Auburn Hills, Mich.
D, Yohance Marshall, Sr., South Florida, Tampa, Fla.
M, Anthony Ampaipitakwong, So., Akron, Carrollton, Texas
M, Joshua Boateng, Sr., Liberty, Lynchburg, Va.
M, Dylan Curtis, Sr., Cal-Davis, Pleasanton, Calif.
M, Craig Henderson, Sr., Dartmouth, Lower Hutt, N.H.
M, Brad Ring *, Sr., Indiana, Rockford, Ill.
F, Cody Arnoux *, Jr., Wake Forest, Wilmington, N.C.
F, Graciano Brito *, Sr., Quinnipiac, East Haven, Conn.
F, Samson Malijani, Jr., Fairleigh Dickinson, Lusaka, Zambia
F, Chris Pontius, Sr., UC-Santa Barbara, Yorba Linda, Calif.
F, O'Brian White *, Sr., Connecticut, Scarborough, Ontario
F, Andrew Wiedeman, So., California, San Ramon, Calif.
* indicates prior selection

NSCAA All-South Region

First Team

Pos. / Player / Class / School / Hometown

GK / Jimmy Maurer / So. / South Carolina / Lawrenceville, Ga.

D / Darrius Barnes / Sr. / Duke / Raleigh, N.C.

D / Ike Opara / So. / Wake Forest / Winston-Salem, N.C.

D / Stephen Oyuga / Sr. / Campbell / Nairobi, Kenya

M / Corben Bone / So. / Wake Forest / Dallas, Texas

M / Michael Callahan / Sr. / North Carolina / Cary, N.C.

M / Sam Cronin / Sr. / Wake Forest / Winston-Salem, N.C.

M / Richard Jata / Sr. / Campbell / Port Richey, Fla.

F / Cody Arnoux / Jr. / Wake Forest / Winston-Salem, N.C.

F / Michael Grella / Sr. / Duke / Glen Cove, N.Y.

F / Marcus Tracy / Sr. / Wake Forest / Newtown, Conn.

Second Team

GK / Aaron Johnson / Sr. / Campbell / St. Charles, Mo.

D / Steven Kinney / Jr. / Elon / Norcross, Ga.

D / Wesley Knight / Sr. / College of Charleston / Easley, S.C.

D / Paul Pessina / Sr. / Appalachian State / Palmetto, Fla.

M / Jokull Elisabetarson / Sr. / UNC-Greensboro / Reyjkavik, Iceland

M / Patrick Murray / Sr. / Furman / Peachtree City, Ga.

M / Josue Soto / So. / Campbell / Monterrey, Mexico

F / Sam Arthur / So. / South Carolina / Roswell, Ga.

F / Futhi Bhembe / Sr. / Alabama A&M / Huntsville, Ala.

F / Brian Shriver / Sr. / North Carolina / Clearwater, Fla.

F / Justin Wyatt / Jr. / Elon / Raleigh, N.C.

Third Team

GK / Joe Bendik / Jr. / Clemson / Marietta, Ga.

D / Pavelid Castaneda / Sr. / Duke / Chapel Hill, N.C.

D / Robert Hodge / Jr. / Stetson / Devon, England

D / David Newton / Jr. / Clemson / Mount Pleasant, S.C.

M / Erfan Imeni / Jr. / Elon / Burlington, N.C.

M / Kirk Labusch / Sr. / Stetson / Brandon, Fla.

M / Stefan Runeman / Jr. / Jacksonville / Jonsered, Sweden

F / Ronnie Bouemboue / Jr. / North Carolina State / Brooklyn, N.Y.

F / Miguel DaSilva / So. / Lipscomb / Lauderhill, Fla.

F / Remak Niakan Safi / Sr. / Jacksonville / Jacksonville, Fla.

F / Kareem Yearwood / Jr. / College of Charleston / Sou Sou Lands, Tobago