Wake Forest Athletics
Bone, Opara Named Preseason All-Americans by Soccer America
8/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 26, 2009
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest juniors Corben Bone and Ike Opara were named first-team preseason All-Americans by Soccer America, as announced on Wednesday morning.
The honor caps a preseason that has been filled with accolades for both players. Bone and Opara were each named to the M.A.C. Hermann Trophy watch list and were also named first-team preseason All-Americans by CollegeSoccerNews.com.
After earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors in 2007, Bone had another standout season in 2008, leading the country in assists with 17. He also scored seven goals last season to finish the year with 31 points. The Plano, Texas, native was named a first-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and a second-team All-American by Soccer America and CollegeSoccerNews.com. Bone enters his junior season four assists shy of tying the school record career assists.
Opara was named the ACC's Defensive Player of the Year following the 2008 season. The Durham, N.C., native helped to contribute to 14 shutouts during the 2008 season and also added five goals, including two game-winning goals. He was named a first-team All-American by Top Drawer Soccer and CollegeSoccerNews.com, while also earning second-team All-American accolades from Soccer America and the NSCAA. Opara is considered one of the top central defenders in collegiate soccer and has extensive experience playing with the United States U-20 Men's National Team.
Wake Forest closes out its exhibition schedule on Thursday at 8 p.m. at Furman. The regular season opener is Tuesday, September 1, when the Deacs host William & Mary at 7 p.m.
2009 Soccer America Men's Preseason All-Americans
First Team
GK - Jovan Bubonja, UIC, Senior
D - Mark Blades, Northwestern, Senior
D - Joel Gustafsson, St. John's, Senior
D - Ike Opara, Wake Forest, Junior
D - Barry Rice, Kentucky, Senior
M - Corben Bone, Wake Forest, Junior
M - Craig Henderson, Dartmouth, Senior
M - Michael Stephens, UCLA, Senior
F - Andre Akpan, Harvard, Senior
F - Samson Malijani, Fairleigh Dickinson, Senior
F - Andrew Wiedeman, California, Junior
Second Team
GK - Brian Perk, UCLA, Senior
D - Tennant McVea, Loyola (Md.), Senior
D - Ofori Sarkodie, Indiana, Senior
D - Chris Schuler, Creighton, Senior
M - Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Akron, Junior
M - Nelson Becerra, St. John's, Senior
M - Stephen McCarthy, North Carolina, Senior
M - Toni Stahl, Connecticut, Senior
F - Bright Dike, Notre Dame, Senior
F - Irving Garcia, UC Irvine, Senior
F - Casey Townsend, Maryland, Sophomore
