Jan. 25, 2008
DALLAS (SMU) - Ben Shuleva became the second SMU men's soccer player drafted by a Major League Soccer team when he was chosen Thursday in the third round (36th overall) of the MLS Supplemental Draft.
SMU defender Adrian Chevannes was chosen in the third round (also 36th overall) in the MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids.
Shuleva, a senior from Dublin, Ohio, anchored the defensive end of the Mustang midfield and had seven points on three goals and an assist. He scored both SMU goals in a 2-2 tie at Tulsa, earning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors. A tri-captain for the Mustangs, Shuleva started 66 of his 78 games after transferring to SMU from St. John's.
Shuleva also led the Mustangs in the classroom, earning Conference USA All-Academic honors and being named third-team Academic All-America by CoSIDA and ESPN The Magazine.
Shuleva was one of two players selected in the supplemental draft by FC Dallas, who also grabbed Virginia's Yannick Reyering. The two squared off Sept. 7 at Westcott Field, when Shuleva and the Mustangs blasted then-No. 5 Virginia, 5-1.
FC Dallas has a history of drafting SMU players, including 2007 Supplemental Draft choice Chase Wileman, who spent the 2007 season on the FC Dallas Developmental roster.
